I  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY,* 
I  i:,^,  2  Princeton,  N.  J-_£_^_-  | 

t'TT/      From  the  PUBLISHER.    ^ ^  f 

BX%207  .J4  J82  1841 
The  jubilee  memorial 


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Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arclnive 
in  2015 


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THE 

JUBILEE  MEMORIAL 


BHINQ  THB 


SERMONS.  MEETINGS,  PRESENTillONS, 


FULL  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  JUBILEE 

COMMSMORATlNa  y^y^ 

THE  REV.  WILLIAM  JAY'S 
FIFTY  YEARS'  MINISTRY 


"  Firm  in  the  faith  and  valiant  for  the  truth. 
Thine  age  hath  well  redeemed  the  pledge  of  youth." 

JAMES  MONTGOMERY. 


NE  w-york: 
ROBERT  CARTER, 

58  CANAL-STREET. 
M  DCCC  XLI. 


H.  LUDWIG.  FRINTEKf 

72  vesey-st.,  N.  Y. 


PREFACE 

TO  THE  AMERICAN  EDITION, 


The  members  of  Mr.  Jay's  family  in  America  caimot  resist  the 
desire  they  feel  to  circulate  this  Memorial  of  the  labours  of  their 
revered  and  honoured  relative,  (read  by  them  with  many  tears,) 
throughout  the  United  States. 

His  works,  which  have  for  so  many  years  been  extensively  read 
and  appreciated  in  America,  have  prepared  the  way  for  its  recep- 
tion ;  and  we  doubt  not  that  every  admirer  of  his  writings  will 
read  "  the  Jubilee  Memorial"  with  the  liighest  pleasure. 

It  contains  the  record  of  events  the  most  important  and  inter- 
esting—an exhibition  of  principles  and  sentiments  the  most  Chris- 
tian and  lovely— and  the  details  and  illustrations  of  labom-s  the 
most  valuable  and  exemplary. 

May  we  not  hope,  as  we  earnestly  pray,  that  these  results  from 
a  single  ministry— these  labours  from  a  single  workman— this 
character  in  a  single  individual,  and  these  testimonials  from  a 
single  community,  may  stimulate  aU  thus  to  shew  themselves  the 
servants  of  Christ,  acceptable  to  God,  and  approved  of  men. 

It  was  resolved,  on  the  occasion  of  the  Jubilee,  to  present  each 
of  Mr.  Jay's  grandchildren  in  America  with  a  copy  of  all  the  pro- 
ceedings ;  this  has  been  done— and  it  is  from  one  of  these  copies 
this  edition  is  now  published. 

ROBERT  BOLTON. 

Pei-Ham  Prtory, 

New-RoclieUe,  N.  T. 

May  8,  1841. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


The  Sermons  and  Addresses  composing  this  Vo- 
lume have  been  printed  from  the  transcript  of  the 
short-hand  notes  of  Mr.  Oxford,  of  Bristol ;  who 
was  engaged  by  the  Publisher  to  take  the  proceedings 
cormected  with  the  Jubilee  celebration.  They  have 
since  been  revised  by  the  respective  preachers  and 
speakers ;  and  appear  before  the  Public,  therefore,  in 
an  authentic  character. 

Bath,  Feb.  19,  1841. 


CONTENTS. 


Pags 

INTRODUCTION  7 

RELIGIOUS   COMMEMORATION   OF  THE   REV.  \VM. 

jay's  jubilee  .        .        .        .        .  .13 

SERMON  BY  THE  REV.  WM.  JAY  .  .  .  .15 

SERMON  BY  THE  REV.   TIMOTHY   EAST,    OF  BIR- 
MINGHAM  60 

SOCIAL    CELEBRATION    OF    THE    REV.    W.  JAY's 

JUBILEE    .......  86 

MORNING  MEETING   AT   THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS  

PRESENTATION  AND  SPEECHES      .  .  .89 

EVENING    MEETING    AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL  EREC- 
TION OF  PILLARS  JUVENILE  PRESENTATION 

 AND  SPEECHES  144 

ANTHEMS  SUNG  AT  THE  EVENING  MEETING  .  .  177 

JUBILEE  HYMNS,  COMPOSED  BY  J.  MONTGOMERY, 

ESQ  178 


INTKODBCTION. 


The  circumstance  of  any  Minister  of  Religion  offi- 
ciating for  fifty  years  in  one  place,  is  a  striking  event. 
The  attention  of  every  one,  who  reflects  at  all  upon 
the  brevity  and  uncertainty  of  human  life,  and  upon 
the  numerous  disqualifying  ailments  to  which  flesh  is 
heir,  is  arrested  by  the  occurrence  :  and  it  is  natural, 
in  such  a  case,  to  inquire,  what  has  been  the  charac- 
ter, and  what  the  result,  of  labours  so  unusually  pro- 
tracted beyond  the  average  limits  of  official  efficiency 
and  usefulness.  Occasionally,  such  inquiries  may 
issue  in  disappointment  and  regret.  More  frequently, 
however,  when  such  cases  as  the  one  contemplated 
do  occur,  we  may  hope  that  the  long  period  of  half  a 
century,  employed  in  the  highest  service  and  devoted 
to  the  holiest  ends,  seldom  fails  to  be  crovraed  with  a 
rich  harvest  of  "  good  fruits."  At  least,  there  is  no 
uncertainty  in  the  instance  which  has  prompted  these 
remarks.  Indeed,  if  we  could  suppose  good  men  to 
be  at  all  influenced  by  envy,  we  should  imagine  that 
not  a  few  of  those  who  are  called  to  the  sacred  pro- 
fession might  be  induced  to  wish  that  some  of  the 
honour  which  deservedly  attaches  to  the  name  of  Jay 
might  be  shared  by  themselves.  Whether  as  a 
preacher  or  as  an  author,  it  is  alike  known  and  re- 
vered not  only  in  the  immediate  scene  of  his  personal 
labours ;  but  in  either  Hemisphere — wherever  the 
English  language  is  spoken — it  may  not  be  too  much 
to  say,  that  the  pulpit  celebrity  and  imperishable  wri- 
tings of  William  Jay  arc  more  or  less  known  and 
appreciated. 


viii 


INTRODUCTION. 


Well  can  his  own  flock  bear  testimony  to  the  per- 
sonal and  pastoral  qualities  of  the  aged  shepherd  who 
has  attended  to  their  spiritual  wants  during  half  a 
century,  and  whose  faithful  services  they  were  anx- 
ious to  perpetuate  by  some  affectionate  and  endearing 
memorial,  because  they  know  him  to  be  one 

.   ..."  Whose  heart  is  warm, 

Whose  hands  are  pure,  whose  doctrine  and  whose  life 

Coincident,  exliibit  lucid  proof 

Tliat  he  is  honest  in  the  sacred  cause." 

In  the  character  in  which  his  name  is  become  more 
generally  known — ^that  of  a  preacher — we  cannot  pass 
by  this  opportunity  of  rendering  the  tribute  of  respect, 
due  to  genius  that  has  so  long  and  successfully  devo- 
ted its  high  faculties  to  the  advancement  of  the  cause 
of  Christian  virtue,  and  the  diffusion  of  the  knowledge 
of  eternal  truth. 

The  pulpit  eloquence  of  Mr.  Jay  has  enriched  what 
we  may  call  the  spiritual  literature  of  the  age.  And 
who  can  count  the  good  which  talents,  exercising  a 
charmed  influence  over  the  heart  and  the  reason,  has 
accomplished  since  the  ministry  of  this  most  success- 
ful and  justly  celebrated  preacher  commenced  ! 

It  was  at  the  exciting  and  awful  era,  when  the  po- 
litical earthquake  of  the  French  revolution  threatened 
with  ruin  kingdoms  and  principles,  when  an  infidel 
philosophy  walked  forth,  amid  sacrifices  of  blood  and 
scenes  of  horror,  to  blaspheme  the  Majesty  of  Hea- 
ven, and  proclaim  death  an  eternal  sleep, — it  was  at 
that  awful  era  that  William  Jay  and  his  late  highly- 
gifted  friend  Robert  Hall,  one  of  the  most  splendid 
and  powerful  pulpit  orators  that  England  ever  pro- 
duced, commenced  their  useful  and  brilliant  career  as 
preachers  of  the  gospel.  Along  with  the  ablest  cham- 
pions of  the  Bible  and  the  throne  which  the  Church 
of  England  possessed,  aided  by  the  lofty  courage  and 
immortal  genius  of  Edmund  Burke,  they  assisted  to 


INTRODUCTION. 


ix 


fight  the  battle  of  Divine  truth  against  the  Satanic 
crew  who 

.   .   .    .    "  Made  impious  war  on  heaven, 
And  battle  proud." 

An  unkno-wn  debt  of  gxatitude  is  due  to  those  who 
shared  in  the  dangers  and  toils  of  that  great  conflict, 
and  in  the  sublime  triumph  which  they  achieved,  by 
which  was  turned  back  from  this  Christian  land  the 
rushing  rage  of  infidel  desolation,  and  the  moral  pesti- 
lence staid  which  would  have  reduced  man  to  the 
state  of  a  perishing,  hopeless  outcast,  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  a  forsaken  and  fatherless  world. 

If  any  living  man  is  entitled  to  be  thus  distinguished 
by  the  wise  and  the  good,  it  is  the  venerable  Pastor 
of  Argyle  Chapel,  Bath,  who,  by  talents  the  most 
brilliant,  graces  the  most  Christian,  and  energies  the 
most  persevering,  has  won  for  himself  the  confidence, 
the  admiration,  and  the  love  of  the  people  of  God,  in 
every  section  of  the  Christian  Church. 

No  jubilee  of  a  conqueror  in  the  field  of  mere 
earthly  warfare  is  enriched  ^\ith  the  interesting  recol- 
lections which  must  be  associated  with  the  celebration 
of  his  half-century  of  struggles,  who  has  been  in- 
cessantly engaged  in  moral  conflict  on  behalf  of  man's 
eternal  interests,  and  whose  labours  are  crowned,  like 
his,  with  the  trophies  of  Christian  victory,  pure,  radi- 
ant, and  imperishable. 

These  facts  being  undeniable  ;  it  had  been  matter 
of  just  surprise  if  the  religious  community  among 
whom  Mr.  Jay  has  so  long  laboured  had  not  evinced, 
on  the  fiftieth  amiiversary  of  his  ministerial  labours 
among  ihem,  a  lively  sense  of  his  valuable  services, 
and  had  not  exhibited  a  corresponding  course  of  con- 
duct. Such  a  feeling  and  such  a  conduct,  we  rejoice 
to  say,  they  have  evinced  and  exliibited.  The  church 
and  congregation  at  Argyle  Chapel  have,  on  this 
memorable  occasion,  acted  in  a  manner  which  reflects 


X 


INTRODUCTION. 


on  them  high  honour.  They  have  shewn  that,  they 
do  esteem  their  venerated  Pastor  "  very  highly  in 
love  for  his  works'  sake."  And,  in  aU  that  they 
have  done  in  proof  of  this,  we  doubt  not  that  they  have 
at  the  same  time  designed  to  testify  their  gratitude  to 
the  great  Head  of  the  Church  for  the  invaluable  bene- 
fits which  He  has  vouchsafed  to  them  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  His  much-honoured  servant. 

A  numerous  Meeting  of  the  Members  of  the  church 
and  congregation  was  held  in  Argyle  Chapel,  Bath, 
on  Tuesday  evening,  13th  October,  1840,  at  which 
Henry  Godwin,  esq.,  presided. 

The  following  Resolutions  were  then  unanimously 
adopted : 

MOVED  BY  SECONDED  BY 

Mr.  ISAAC  TITLEY.  Mr  S.  KING. 

I.  That,  as  in  the  month  of  January  neit  (should  it  please  Al- 
mighty God  to  prolong  his  hfe,)  The  Rev.  "William  Jay,  the  ven- 
erable Pastor  of  this  church,  will  have  completed  the  fiftieth  year 
of  his  labours  in  tliis  place,  this  meeting  considers  it  their  duty  to 
present  to  him  some  tribute  of  their  high  esteem  and  affectionate 
regard,  in  testimony  of  their  sincere  attachment  to  his  person,  of 
their  veneration  for  the  consistency  of  his  character  during  so 
long  a  period,  and  of  their  gratitude  for  the  many  spiritual  benefits 
■which  they  have  derived  from  his  unwearied  and  successful  la- 
bours ;  which  they  pray  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  wiU  still 
continue  unto  him. 

MOVED  BY  SECONDED  BY 


II.  That  an  Address  be  presented  to  Mr.  Jay  on  the  day  of  the 
Jubilee,  accompanied  by  a  suitable  present . 


III.  That  Subscriptions  be  now  entered  into  for  the  purpose  of 
raising  a  fund  for  such  Testimonial,  and  the  incidental  expenses 
cormected  therewith  ;  but  that  the  nature  of  the  present  be  sub- 
ject to  the  approval  of  Mr.  Jay. 


Mr.  BRYANT. 


Mr.  C.  GODWIN. 


MOVED  BY 

Mr.  JACOB  TITLEY. 


SECONDED  BY 

Mr.  JAS.  GRIFFITHS. 


INTRODUCTION. 


xi 


MOVED  BY  SECONDED  BY 

Mr.  NEWALL.  Mr.  RICE  HOPKINS. 

IV.  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  carry  out  the  objects  of 
the  Meeting,  by  collecting  additional  Subscriptions,  determining 
the  best  mode  of  celebrating  the  day,  and  making  all  the  necessa- 
ry  arrangements  ;  and  that  such  Committee  do  consist  of  Twen- 
ty-One Gentlemen,  together  with  the  Deacons  of  the  Church,  five 
being  a  quorum . 

MOANED  BY  SECONDED  BY 

Mr.  R.  H.  GRIFFITH.  Mr.  FISHER. 

v.  That  the  following  Gentlemen  be  appointed  on  such  Com- 
mittee, namely — 

DR.  BOWIE, 
MR.  J.  BARNARD, 

  T.  BARTER, 

  R.  FINIGAN, 

  W.  GIBBONS, 

  W.  GEORGE, 

  H.  GODWIN, 

  C.  GODW^IN, 

  H.  GOODRIDGE, 

  J.  GRIFFITHS, 

  W.  JAMES, 

That  Mr.  Neavall  be  appointed  Treasurer,  and  Messrs.  R.  H. 
GsiFFiTH  and  Rice  Hopkixs,  Secretaries. 
At  a  subsequent  Meeting  of  friends  of  the  Rev. 
William  Jay,  held  at  the  London  CofFee-House,  Lud- 
gate  Hill,  London,  on  Friday,  the  6th  November, 
1840 ;  Edward  Smith,  Esq.  presiding ;  it  was 
unanimously  resolved — 

That  this  Meeting  cordially  approves  the  object  of  the  foregoing 
Resolutions  ;  and  also  desires  to  record  its  high  admiration  of  the 
pubUc  and  private  worth  of  Mr.  Jay  and  to  aid  the  Bath  Commit- 
tee in  receuing  Contributions  for  the  Testimonial  referred  to, 
from  friends  jesiding  in  London  and  at  a  distance  from  Bath: 
That,  inasmuch  as  Mr.  Jay  has,  in  the  course  of  his  protracted 
ministerial  labours,  frequently  promoted  the  great  cause  of 
Christianity,  by  a  catholic  advocacy  of  its  claims  amongst  the  va- 


mr.  g.  king, 

  S.  KING, 

  R.  P.  LEMON, 

  J.  G.  MANSFORD, 

  J.  MATTHEWS, 

  H.  MORGAN, 

  G.  NORTHMORE, 

  W.  PRICE, 

  E.  SAUNDERS, 

  J.  C.  SPENDER. 


xii 


INTRODUCTION. 


rious  communions  of  Christians  ;  and,  as  the  members  of  these 
denominations  may  feel  interested  in  manifesting  their  personal 
regard  to  the  estimable  individual  who  has  thus,  with  commend- 
able hberality  of  sentiment,  officiated  in  their  pulpits,— it  appears 
to  this  Meeting  that  an  opportunity  should  be  also  afforded  those 
friends  to  evince  their  regard  on  the  above  interesting  occasion. 

That,  in  accordance  with  the  foregoing  Resolutions,  contribu- 
tions for  London,  and  other  places,  be  now  paid  into  the  Bank  of 
Messrs.  Hankey,  Fenchurch  street  ;  and  that  these  Resolutions 
be  advertised  in  the  public  papers. 

Various  Meetings  of  the  Bath  Committee  were 
subsequently  held  ;  at  which  the  necessary  measures 
were  adopted  for  carrying  out  the  objects  for  which  it 
was  appointed.  Among  other  things,  it  was  agreed 
that  as  the  day  of  the  JubOee  would  occur  on  Satur- 
day, the  30th  of  January,  and  as  that  would  be  an  in- 
convenient day  for  the  proposed  celebration,  the  reli- 
gious conunemoration  should  take  place  on  Sunday, 
the  31st  of  January ;  and  the  social  celebration,  with 
the  presentation  of  the  Testimonial  and  Address  to 
Mr.  Jay,  on  Tuesday,  the  2nd  of  February,  The 
arrangements  made  by  the  Committee,  and  the  vari- 
ous ways  in  which  the  Jubilee  has  been  commemora- 
ted, are  recorded  in  the  subsequent  pages. 


RELIGIOUS  COMEMOMTION 

OF  THE 

JUBILEE  OF  THE  REV.  W.  JAY'S 
PASTORATE. 


On  Lord's  day,  January  31st,  1841,  a  special 
Meeting  of  the  Members  of  the  church  and 
congregation  was  held  in  Argyle  chapel,  at 
seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  fervent 
thanksgiving  and  prayer  were  offered  for  the 
Divine  Goodness  and  blessing. 

At  nine  o'clock,  the  Scholars  belonging  to 
the  Sunday  school  connected  with  the  Chapel 
were  assembled,  and  books  distributed  among 
them  bearing  an  appropriate  inscription  com- 
memorative of  the  event.  An  address  was  also 
delivered  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Nichols,  of  Dar- 

wen,  Lancashire. 

2 


14  RELIGIOUS  COMMEMORATION,  ETC. 

At  eleven  o'clock,  a  Public  Service  was  held 
in  the  Chapel.  The  introductory  devotional 
engagements  vv^ere  conducted  by  the  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Nichols,  and  a  most  impressive  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  William  Jay. 

At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  another 
special  Meeting  for  thanksgiving  and  prayer 
was  held,  in  which  the  Rev.  R.  Penman,  of 
Yeovil,  and  the  Rev.  J.  Lewis,  of  Wotton-under- 
Edge,  assisted. 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  concluding 
service  of  the  Lord's  day  took  place.  The  Rev. 
T.  East,  of  Birmingham,  occupied  the  pulpit, 
and  delivered  an  animating  and  appropriate 
sermon. 


REV.  W.  JAY'S  SERMON. 


"  What  is  our  hope,  or  joy,  or  crown  of  rejoicing  ?  Are 
not  even  ye  in  the  presence  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
at  his  coming  ?  "  1  Thess.  ii.  19. 

"  One  star  difFereth  from  another  star  in  glory." 
So  it  is  in  the  natural  world;  nor  is  it  less  so  in 
the  spiritual.  Not  only  are  the  "righteous  more 
excellent  than  their  neighbours,"  but  some  of 
them  more  excellent  than  others.  In  the  para- 
ble of  the  sower,  our  Lord  not  only  distinguishes 
the  good  ground  from  the  three  unfruitful  soils, 
but  represents  the  good  ground  itself  as  pro- 
ducing in  the  unequal  proportions  of  "thirty, 
sixty,  and  a  hundred  fold." 

It  would  be  easy  to  exemplify  this  in  the  case 
of  individuals.  Lot  is  called  "  just  Lot ;  "  and 
it  is  said,  "  his  righteous  soul  was  vexed  with 
the  filthy  conversation  of  the  ungodly;"  but  what 
a  difference  do  we  perceive  between  him  and 
his  uncle  Abraham,  "  the  friend  of  God  ! "  How 
superior  was  the  faith  of  the  Roman  centurion, 


16 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


who  was  satisfied  with  a  word  from  the  Saviour, 
without  his  bodily  presence,  to  the  hesitation  of 
Thomas,  who  resolved  not  to  believe  in  his 
Lord's  resurrection,  unless  he  saw  and  handled 
him  ! 

The  same  may  be  also  observed  in  regard  to 
religious  communities.  Let  us  take,  for  exam- 
ple, two  of  the  churches  planted  by  the  Apos- 
tles themselves.  Here  is  first  the  church  of 
Corinth.  In  this  there  were  some  good  men, 
and  they  abounded  with  every  kind  of  gifts  :  but 
the  majority  of  them  were  selfish,  and  vain,  and 
contentious,  and  versatile.  They  soon  turned 
away  from  Paul,  and  made  much  of  an  adver- 
sary that  wished  to  invalidate  his  claims ;  so 
that  "  the  more  he  loved  them,  the  less  he 
was  loved  by  them : "  therefore,  with  a  noble 
independence  of  spirit,  though  a  poor  man,  and 
gratefully  receiving  assistance  from  other  con- 
gregations, he  declined  taking  one  farthing  from 
them,  and  laboured  with  his  own  hands  to  sup- 
ply his  necessities. 

But  now  take  ^the  church  of  the  Thessalo- 
nians.  For  these  Paul  had  a  peculiar  and  pre- 
eminent regard ;  and  they  appear  to  have  been 
worthy  of  it.  He  therefore,  (for  he  loved  to 
praise  rather  than  censure,)   speaks  of  them 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


17 


always  not  only  with  affection,  but  commenda- 
tion and  applause.  "  For  this  cause,"  says  he, 
"  we  thank  God  without  ceasing,  because,  when 
ye  received  the  word  of  God  which  ye  heard  of 
us,  ye  received  it  not  as  the  word  of  men,  but 
as  it  is  in  truth,  the  word  of  God,  which  effect- 
ually worketh  also  in  you  that  believe."  And, 
again,  "  We  give  thanks  to  God  always  for  you 
all,  making  mention  of  you  in  our  prayers  ;  re- 
membering without  ceasing  your  work  of  faith, 
and  labour  of  love,  and  patience  of  hope  in  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  sight  of  God  and  our 
Father  ;  for  our  Gospel  came  not  unto  you  in 
word  only,  but  also  in  power,  and  in  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  in  much  assurance ;  as  ye  know 
•what  manner  of  men  we  were  among  you  for 
your  sake.  And  ye  became  followers  of  us, 
and  of  the  Lord,  having  received  the  word  in 
much  affliction,  with  joy  of  the  Holy  Ghost :  so 
that  ye  were  ensamples  to  all  that  believe  in 
Macedonia  and  Achaia.  For  from  you  sounded 
out  the  word  of  the  Lord  not  only  in  Macedonia 
and  Achaia,  but  also  in  every  place  your  faith 
to  Godward  is  spread  abroad ;  so  that  we  need 
not  to  speak  any  thing." 

We  wish  we  had  time  to  recite  more  of  these 
pleasing  representations  :  but  we  must  hasten 
2* 


18  REV.  w.  jay's  sermon. 

to  the  words  you  have  already  heard — "  What 
is  our  hope,  or  joy,  or  crown  of  rejoicing?  Are 
not  even  ye  in  the  presence  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  at  his  coming?" 

These  words  will  furnish  us  with  some  appro- 
priate reflections  in  our  way  to  the  notice  of  an 
event  which  cannot  but  be  deeply  interesting  to 
the  speaker,  and  much  of  the  large  audience 
before  him. 

Our  first  remark  regards  the  advent  of  the 
Saviour ;  for  we  are  here  informed,  or,  rather, 
reminded  of"  His  coming."  This  intends  what 
is  called  in  Scripture  his  "  second"  coming. 
"  Once  in  the  end  of  the  world  hath  he  appear- 
ed to  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself ; 
and  to  them  that  look  for  him  will  he  appear  a 
second  time  without  sin,  unto  salvation,"  His 
former  coming  was,  indeed,  "  unto  salvation  ;" 
but  then  he  came  for  the  procurement  of  the 
blessing  by  his  blood :  but  his  coming  again 
will  be  "  unto  salvation,"  because  he  will  then 
come  to  finish  the  application  of  it  by  his  pow- 
er. In  the  one,  he  "  made  himself  of  no  repu- 
tation," and  was  seen  the  "  man  of  sorrows  and 
acquainted  with  grief ;"  in  the  other,  "  he  shall 
come  in  his  glory,"  and  "  before  him  shall  be 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


19 


gathered  all  nations."  Then  he  was  an  insult- 
ed prisoner  at  Pilate's  bar ;  now  he  is  the 
"  Judge  both  of  quick  and  dead." 

The  apostle  here,  as  in  many  other  places, 
mentions  this  coming  incidentally ;  for  he  al- 
ways took  it  for  granted  that  they  whom  he  ad- 
dressed believed  it,  and  were  waiting  for  it,  and 
regulated  all  their  concerns  by  it.  And  this  is 
the  reason  why  he  so  seldom  names  it,  but  calls 
it  "  iliaV^  day — "  The  Lord  grant  that  he  may 
find  mercy  of  the  Lord  in  that  day" — "I  am 
persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I 
have  committed  unto  him  against  that  day" — 
"  There  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteous- 
ness, which  the  righteous  Judge  shall  give  me 
at  that  day."  Are  we  so  full  of  his  appearing 
as  to  require  only  a  minute  or  casual  hint  to 
bring  the  scene  before  our  minds  %  Has  our 
reference  to  this  distinguished  and  distinguish- 
ing day  such  a  readiness  and  prominence  in  it 
as  to  induce  us  habitually  to  view  and  feel  it  as 

"  The  day  for  which  all  other  days  were  made  ;" 

and  the  end  and  consummation  of  all  things  ? 

Secondly.  At  his  appearance  there  will  be  a 
mutual  recognition  of  individuals.    Much  has 


20 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


been  written  upon  this  subject  of  late  years ; 
and  the  eagerness  with  which  discourses  of  this 
kind  have  been  received,  shews  that  the  senti- 
ment is  much  cherished.  It  would  seem  enough 
for  us  to  be  assured,  that  in  God's  presence  our 
joy  will  be  full.  But  there  is  no  divesting  our- 
selves of  our  present  attachments  and  sympa- 
thies when  we  look  forward  :  humanity  goes 
along  with  us  into  another  state  of  existence. 
We  wish  to  continue  to  be  known  and  to  be  lov- 
ed. We  cannot  endure  the  thought  of  losing 
for  ever  our  dear  intercourse  with  those  who 
have  afforded  us  so  much  pleasure  and  profit, 
and  to  whom  we  often  make,  while  here,  such 
poor  returns. 

"  Friend  after  friend  departs : 

Who  hab  not  lost  a  friend  ? 
There  is  no  union  here  of  hearts 

That  finds  not  here  an  end—" 

How  consoling,  then,  to  be  able  to  say, 

"  There  is  a  world  above 

Where  parting  is  unknown : 
A  long  eternity  of  love 

The  good  enjoy  alone : 
And  faith  beholds  them  dying  here, 
Translated  to  that  glorious  sphere." 


"  I  am  fully  persuaded,"  says  Baxter,  "  that  I 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon-. 


21 


shall  love  my  friends  in  heaven,  and  therefore 
know  them  :  and  this  principally  binds  me  to 
them  on  earth ;  and  if  I  thought  I  should  never 
know  them  more,  nor,  therefore,  love  them  after 
death,  I  should  love  them  comparatively  little, 
as  I  do  all  other  transitory  things.  But  I  now 
delight  in  conversing  with  them,  as  believing  I 
shall  commune  with  them  for  ever." 

This  is  finely  expressed  and  sustained.  But 
there  has  been  much  weak  aro^uinor  here :  and 
some  have  looked  for  far  more  express  decisions 
than  the  Scriptures  choose  to  afford  on  subjects 
not  of  the  highest  importance.  Yet,  we  think 
the  sacred  writers  fully  admit  and  establish  the 
fact  indirectly.  Witness  the  words  of  our  Sa- 
viour :  "  Make  to  yourselves  friends  of  the 
mammon  of  unrighteousness,  that  when  ye  fail, 
they  may  receive  you  into  everlasting  habita- 
tions." Observe  Paul's  lancmacre  to  the  Corinth- 
ians  :  "  Ye  have  acknowledged  us  in  part,  that 
we  are  your  rejoicing,  even  as  ye  also  are  ours 
in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus."  Above  all,  re- 
member the  words  before  us  to  his  beloved 
Thessalonians  :  "  What  is  our  hope,  or  joy,  or 
crown  of  rejoicing  ?  Are  not  even  ye  in  the  pre- 
sence of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  at  his  coming?" 


22 


REV,  W,  jay's  sermon. 


This  leads  us  to  a  third  remark.  That  the 
relation  between  ministers  and  people  peculiarly 
regards  the  day  of  God.  All  other  connexions 
are  formed  in  time  only,  and  derive  all  their 
importance  from  the  present  world ;  but  this  is 
designed  for  eternity,  and  all  its  results  issue  in 
a  world  to  come.  It  is  not  therefore  without 
reason  the  appstle  says  to  the  Thessalonians, 
whatsoever  you  are  in  our  favour,  we  shall  find 
you  to  be  "  in  the  presence  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  at  his  coming  :"  or  that  he  should  have 
said  to  the  Philippians,  "  Hold  fast  the  word  of 
life,  that  I  may  rejoice  in  the  day  of  Christ,  that 
I  have  not  run  in  vain,  neither  laboured  in  vain." 
It  is  easy  to  understand  this,  and  to  explain  the 
bearing  our  labours  among  you  have  upon  that 
solemn  period. 

Then  only  will  the  fruits  of  our  ministry  be 
secure  from  all  danger.  This  is  not  the  case 
now.  Which  of  you,  whatever  may  be  your  age 
or  degree  in  religion,  is  beyond  the  reach  of 
temptation,  and  does  not  need  the  admonition, 
"  Let  him  that  thinketh  he  standeth,  take  heed 
lest  he  fall  ?"  Our  apostle  says  of  his  converts, 
"  I  am  jealous  over  you ;  and  I  fear,  lest  by  any 
means,  as  the  serpent  beguiled  Eve  through  his 
subtilty,  so  your  minds  should  be  corrupted 


REV.  V,'.   JAY  S  SERMON. 


23 


from  the  simplicity  that  is  in  Christ."  And  says 
John,  to  his  children  who  were  walking  in  the 
truth,  "  Look  to  yourselves,  that  we  lose  not 
those  things  which  we  have  wrought,  but  that 
we  receive  a  full  reward." 

Then  only  w  ill  the  fruits  of  our  ministry  have 
attained  their  completeness.  God  has  already 
begun  the  good  work  in  his  people,  but  he  has 
not  perfected  that  which  concemeth  them.  As 
yet  something  is  defective  in  every  duty ;  and 
wanting  in  every  grace.  But  then  the  dawn  will 
be  day ;  the  blade  will  be  the  full  corn  in  the 
ear  ;  the  child  will  have  reached  the  measure  of 
the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ :  and  then,  as 
to  their  knowledge,  their  holiness,  their  enjoy- 
ment, that  w^hich  is  in  part  will  be  done  away ; 
and  they  will  be  presented  "  faultless  before  the 
presence  of  His  glor^"  with  exceeding  joy." 

Then  only  will  the  fruits  of  our  ministry  be 
ascertained,  and  known.  We  have  reason  to 
fear  that  some,  if  not  many,  who  belong  to  us 
now,  will  conduce  little  to  our  honour  or  happi- 
ness when  we  shall  meet  before  the  judgment- 
seat  of  Christ — unless,  indeed,  as  they  will  be 
compelled  to  bear  witness  to  our  fidelity  and 
ascribe  their  destruction  to  themselves  :  "  for  we 
are  a  sweet  savour  of  Christ,  in  them  that 


24 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


perish,  as  well  as  in  them  that  are  saved."  But 
this  is  not  the  satisfaction  we  long  after.  We 
may  give  up  our  account  with  joy  and  not  with 
grief ;  but  that  will  not  be  profitable  for  you — 
And  shall  we  have  in  that  day  to  exclaim,  when 
we  survey  the  company  of  the  saved  :  "  Where 
is  he  who  so  long  occupied  such  a  seat  in  the 
sanctuary  ? — where  is  he  who  administered  the 
bread  and  wine  at  the  Lord's  table  ? — where  are 
those  who  by  their  wisdom  and  zeal  so  aided  in 
our  benevolent  and  sacred  institutions  ? — where 
are  those  who  so  largely  contributed  to  the  sup- 
port of  missions  and  the  spread  of  the  Scrip- 
tures ?  Are  they  who  wrought  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  ark  perishing  in  the  flood  ?" 

Ah  !  perhaps  if  we  knew  now  what  will  here- 
after be  revealed,  we  should  be  affected  to 
distraction ;  and  certainly  conclude  that  God 
had  not  sent  us,  or  that  we  had  not  spoken  his 
word  faithfully. 

On  the  other  hand,  at  present  we  are  not 
proper  judges  of  our  success.  In  many  instances 
we  may  never  know  while  here  the  good  we  have 
been  the  means  of  doing.  Some  of  our  converts 
are  fearful  and  backward  to  speak ;  others  who 
receive  benefit  may  be  removed  to  a  distance, 
and  have  no  opportunity  to  communicate  with 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


25 


us.  Yea,  we  may  be  useful  to  some  when  we 
have  finished  our  course.  The  sermons  heard 
from  the  living  voice  with  indifference  may  in 
remembrance  impress  ;  and  the  thought  of  meet- 
ing us  again  may  awaken  a  salutary  alarm. 

Indeed,  with  regard  to  our  success,  ignorance 
at  present  may  be  safer  for  us  than  knowledge. 
Popularity  is  always  dangerous,  and  frequently 
injurious  ;  and  perhaps  no  kind  of  popularity  is 
so  exciting  as  that  which  arises  from  eminent 
and  distinguished  usefulness.  If  Luther,  or 
Whitfield,  or  Wesley,  could  have  seen  in  a  vision 
what  they  did  while  living,  and  what  they  are 
doing  now  they  are  dead,  they  might  have  been 
"  exalted  above  measure."  But  no  danger  will 
attend  any  discoveries  of  this  kind  hereafter. 
There  will  be  no  subtle  vanity  in  us  to  work 
upon.  We  shall  not  "  sacrifice  to  our  own  net, 
or  burn  incense  to  our  own  drag."  We  shall 
see  and  acknowledge  that  we  were  only  instru- 
ments ;  nor  shall  we  feel,  as  we  sometimes  now 
do,  that  we  were  the  instruments,  and  employed 
rather  than  others. 

Finally,  we  remark,  that  these  future  realiza- 
tions may  even  now  be  pa7'tially  anticipated.  A 
minister,  as  you  have  heard,  must  principally 
3 


26 


REV.   W.   jay's  sermon. 


wait  for  what  is  to  take  place  at  the  revelation 
of  the  Saviour :  but  the  less  is  included  in  the 
greater  ;  and  even  now,  in  a  good  measure  and 
degree,  he  may  look  towards  his  people,  and  say, 
"  What  is  our  hope,  or  joy,  or  crown  of  rejoic- 
ing ?  Are  not  even  ye  in  the  presence  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  at  his  coming 

The  degrees  of  ministerial  satisfaction  will 
vary. 

Some  encourage  us — These  are  our  "  hope." 
Some  solace  us — These  are  our  "  joy."  Some 
dignify  us — These  are  our  "crown  of  rejoicing." 
We  are  all  aware  that  the  same  persons  may  be 
all  this  to  a  minister  in  the  successive  stages  of 
their  experience  and  improvement :  but  we  shall 
exemplify  the  apostle's  gradation  in  three 
classes  found  in  every  religious  society,  though 
the  first  is  more  numerous  than  the  second,  and 
the  second  than  the  third. 

Some  encourage  us — These  are  our  "  hope." 
In  some  measure  this  will  apply  to  all  our  hear- 
ers. What  animation  should  we  feel  if,  when 
we  entered  the  pulpit,  we  were  to  look  down 
upon  our  audience,  and  suppose  the  greater  part 
of  them  were  beyond  the  reach  of  mercy  ?  But 
the  Scripture  does  not  require  us  to  think  this 
— yea,  it  commands  us  to  preach  the  Gospel  to 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


27 


every  creature  ;  and  to  say  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  that  taketh 
away  the  sin  of  the  world."  But  many  "  reject 
the  counsel  of  God,"  or  "  neglect  so  great  salva- 
tion ;"  and  we  cannot  deny  that  there  are  those 
among  our  own  people  who  almost  inspire  us 
with  despair.  They  are  those  of  you  who  have 
long  heard  the  word  of  life,  and  know  the  truth, 
but  hold  it  in  unrighteousness  ;  and  have  been 
often  wooed  and  awed  in  vain ;  and  have  re- 
sisted the  Holy  Ghost,  and  have  quenched  the 
Spirit ;  and  have  become  insensible  under  the 
means  which  once  alarmed  you ;  and  are  now 
at  ease  in  Zion. 

But  there  are  those  who  are  our  "  hope"-— 
They  are  the  young,  whose  consciences  as  yet 
are  tender  ;  whose  hearts  as  yet  are  not  hard- 
ened through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin ;  whose 
understandings  are  not  yet  perverted  by  error  ; 
who  are  not  yet  induced  to  flee  to  infidelity  as 
a  refuge ;  who  are  not  yet  taken  captive  by  the 
devil  at  his  will ;  whose  affections  now  glow 
with  ardour  who  are  now  free  from  the  cares 
that  will  engross,  if  not  embitter,  future  life — 
while  every  thing  invites  as  well  as  calls  them 
to  "  remember  their  Creator  in  the  days  of  their 
youth ;  before  the  evil  days  come,  or  the  years 


28 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


draw  near,  in  which  they  will  say,  We  have  no 
pleasure  in  them."  When  Jesus  saw  the  young 
man  he  loved  him ;  and  said,  "  Thou  art  not 
far  from  the  kingdom  of  God." 

— They  are  the  offspring  of  pious  parents — 
For  though  grace  goes  not  by  descent,  they  have 
a  thousand  advantages  of  which  others  are  des- 
titute. They  have  been  screened  from  vicious 
companions  ;  they  have  been  followed  by  many 
prayers  ;  they  have  early  known  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures;  they  have  kneeled  every  morning  and 
evening  at  the  family  altar  ;  they  have  seen 
good  and  alluring  examples ;  they  have  been 
embraced  and  bedewed  with  tears,  and  address- 
ed alone ;  and  the  father  has  said — "  My  son, 
if  thy  heart  be  wise,  my  heart  shall  rejoice,  even 
mine  ;"  and  the  mother  has  said — "  What,  my 
son  !  and  the  son  of  my  womb  !  and  the  son  of 
my  vows!" — We  know,  alas!  that  all  these 
advantages  may  be  counteracted ;  but  we  also 
know  that  in  many  cases  they  have  been  divinely 
blessed.  In  the  families  of  our  pious  ancestors, 
religion  was  a  kind  of  heirloom,  and  passed 
from  sire  to  son ;  and  "  as  was  the  mother,  so 
was  the  daughter."  We  know  also  the  value  of 
early  impressions,  and  we  know  also  who  has 
said — "  Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  that  he 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


29 


should  go,  and  when  he  is  old  he  will  not  de- 
part from  it." 

— They  are  the  afflicted.  Afflictions  may  be 
in  vain  ;  and  we  read  of  those  that  "  turn  not  to 
Him  that  smiteth  them."  Yet  what  numbers 
have  had  reason  to  say — "  It  is  good  for  me  that 
I  have  been  afflicted ;  for  before  I  was  afflicted 
I  went  astray,  but  now  have  I  kept  thy  word." 
Afflictions  feelingly  shew  the  evil  of  sin,  the 
vanity  of  the  w^orld,  the  uncertainty  of  creature 
dependence,  and  the  importance  of  something 
that  shall  refresh  us  when  our  gourds  wither, 
and  support  us  when  our  props  give  way.  There 
is,  therefore,  a  natural  adaptation  and  tendency 
in  them  to  aid  religious  decision.  I  always, 
therefore,  look  hopefully  toward  persons  when 
they  come  into  trouble :  just  as,  when  I  see  a 
smith  putting  the  iron  into  the  fire,  I  conclude 
that  he  is  going  to  turn  it  into  an  implement  of 
usefulness,  which  could  not  be  done  while  it 
remained  cold  and  hard  ;  or  as  when  I  see  the 
husbandman  pruning  a  tree,  I  conclude, however 
much  he  cuts  off,  that  he  does  not  mean  at 
present  to  destroy  it,  but  is  anxious  for  its 
growth  and  fruitfulness.  I  cannot,  indeed,  al- 
ways, when  I  see  a  parent  chastising,  infer, 
from  the  action,  his  moral  concern  for  the  child ; 
3* 


30 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


for  the  fathers  of  our  flesh  often  chastise  for 
their  own  pleasure,  in  relief  of  their  passion : 
but  "  the  Father  of  our  spirits,"  always  does  it 
"  for  our  profit,  that  we  may  be  partakers  of  his 
holiness."  He  does  not  afflict  willingly,  but,  as 
the  only-wise  God,  employs  the  rod  to  enforce 
the  demands  of  the  word  ;  and  he  himself  ex- 
pects a  suitable  result :  "  I  will  go  and  return  to 
my  place  till  they  acknowledge  their  offence, 
and  seek  my  face  :  in  their  affliction  they  will 
seek  me  early." 

— They  are  the  convinced  and  awakened,  who 
begin  to  feel  the  powers  of  a  world  to  come  ; 
who  are  sometimes  awfully,  and  sometimes 
pleasingly  affected  by  divine  things  ;  now  trem- 
bling at  the  terror  of  the  Lord,  or  now  melting 
into  tears  at  his  dying  love  ;  loving  to  retire 
from  the  sons  and  daughters  of  vice  and  vanity, 
to  indulge  in  the  morning  and  evening  walk  ; 
and,  meeting  with  the  addresses  of  a  God  in  all 
around  them,  are  ready  to  surrender  their  hearts, 
saying,  "  Lord,  I  am  thine,  save  me." 

— We  acknowledge  that  conviction  is  not 
conversion,  nor  impression  renovation,  nor  emo- 
tion principle  ;  and  therefore  we  do  not  depend 
upon  them.  But  we  are  now  speaking  of  what 
is  only  Jiopeful,  and  a  beginning,  though  it  does 


REV.  w.  jay's  sermon.  31 

not  ensure  the  end,  is  necessary  to  it ;  and  the 
blossom,  though  it  is  not  fruit,  precedes  it ; 
and,  though  knowledge  is  not  always  influen- 
tial, influence  depends  on  knowledge. 

Some  solace  us — They  are  our  "  joy." — 
These  are  the  converted,  and  who  give  credi- 
ble evidence  of  it  in  their  lives.  When  Barna- 
bas came  to  Antioch,  and  had  "  seen  the  grace 
of  God,  he  was  glad."  Yet  they  in  whom  the 
efl'ects  appeared  were  not  converted  by  means 
of  his  preaching ;  but  surely  they  would  not 
have  aflbrded  him  less  pleasure  if  they  had 
been  the  fruit  of  his  oi^-n  ministry. 

Nothing  is  more  mortifying  than  labouring 
in  vain,  and  spending  our  strength  for  naught ; 
and  what  can  be  more  grateful  than,  in  any  in- 
teresting case,  to  see  our  anxieties  and  sacri- 
fices, and  fears  and  toils,  crowned  with  suc- 
cess? Thus,  how  cheering  to  the  husbandman 
is  it,  after  manuring,  and  ploughing,  and  sowing, 
to  go  forth  and  see  "the  springing  of  the  earth," 
"  the  valleys  standing  thick  with  corn,  and  the 
little  hills  rejoicing  on  every  side  ?"  "A  wo- 
man when  she  is  in  travail  hath  sorrow,  because 
her  hour  is  come  :  but  as  soon  as  she  is  deliver- 
ed of  the  child,  she  remembereth  no  more  the 
anguish,  for  joy  that  a  man  is  born  into  the 


32 


REV.  W.   jay's  sermon. 


world."  And  thus  it  is  with  the  true  ministers 
of  the  world  :  they  "  travail  in  pain  till  Christ 
be  formed  in  the  souls  of  their  people."  And 
what  then  are  their  feelings  ?  Paul  speaks  of 
Timothy's  tears,  and  more  than  once  of  his 
own ;  and  even  of  his  "  weakness,  and  fear, 
and  much  trembling."  Many  know  little  of  our 
exercises  and  apprehensions.  We  have  trials 
in  common  with  men  ;  we  have  trials  in  com- 
mon with  Christians  ;  and,  in  addition  to  both 
these,  we  have  trials  peculiar  to  ourselves. — 
And  what  comforts  us  ?  and  what  is  our  "  joy?" 
Are  not  even  ye?  For  "we  live  if  ye  stand 
fast  in  the  Lord."  And  strangers  can  little 
imagine  what  our  "  joy"  is  when  our  prayers 
are  answered,  and  our  endeavours  succeed,  and 
tokens  of  divine  approbation  are  afforded,  and 
seals  are  added  to  our  ministry.  For,  what- 
ever a  Papist  or  Protestant  priesthood  may 
avow,  an  efiectual  ministry  is  the  most  valid 
one  ;  and  such,  ministers  need  no  letters  of  re- 
commendation to  them,  or  from  them.  "  Ye 
are  our  epistle,  written  in  our  hearts,  known 
and  read  of  all  men  :  forasmuch  as  ye  are  man- 
ifestly declared  to  be  the  epistle  of  Christ  min- 
istered by  us,  written  not  with  ink,  but  the 
Spirit  of  the  living  God  ;  not  in  tables  of  stone, 
but  in  fleshly  tables  of  the  heart." 


REV.  W.   JAY  S  SERMON. 


33 


And  in  the  event  itself,  the  salvation  of  souls 
how  much  is  there,  not  only  to  excite,  but  to 
justify  our  "joy  !"    James  considers  the  work 
as  its  own  reward,  proposes  no  other ;  and  he 
proposes  this  not  as  to  a  multitude  of  converts, 
but  an  individual  only  :  "  Brethren,  if  any  of 
you  do  err  from  truth,  and  one  convert  him ;  let 
him  know,  that  he  which  converteth  the  sinner 
from  the  error  of  his  way  shall  save  a  soul  from 
death,  and  shall  hide  a  multitude  of  sins."— 
Compared  with  this,  what  is  the  rescue  of  a  fel- 
low-creature from  the  flood  or  the  devouring 
flame  ?    Yea,  what  would  the  freeing  of  an  em- 
pire from  civil  bondage  be,  compared  with  the 
deliverance  of  one  sinner  from  the  power  of 
darkness,  and  his  translation  into  the  kingdom 
of  God's  dear  Son  ? — for  this  one  ransomed  sin- 
ner will  at  length  have  lived  an  infinitely  longer 
period  than  the  subjects  of  this  empire  would 
have  lived  if  all  of  them  could  have  existed  one 
after  another.    And  what  a  difference  in  their 
conditions  !    For  while  they  would  have  lived 
only  in  a  vale  of  tears,  this  saved  sinner  not 
only  lives  for  ever,  but  lives  for  ever  in  an  im- 
mensity of  glory  and  blessedness.  Angels, 
therefore,  who  are  proverbial  in  their  knowl- 
edge, and  have  a  free  intercourse  with  our 


34 


REV.   W.  jay's  sermon. 


world,  are  represented  as  thrown  into  an  ecsta- 
cy  by  this  event  only :  "  There  is  joy  in  the 
presence  of  the  angels  of  God  over  one  sinner 
that  repenteth."  Yea,  in  every  transaction,  the 
Lord  Jesus  sees  "  of  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and 
is  satisfied."  "He  will  save,  He  will  rejoice  over 
them  with  joy.  He  will  rest  in  his  love,  He  will 
joy  over  them  with  singing.'' 

Some  dignify  us — They  are  our  "  crown  of 
rejoicing"!  These  are  not  only  safe  for  eter- 
nity, but  walk  worthy  of  the  vocation  where- 
with they  are  called.  They  not  only  have  life, 
but  they  have  it  more  abundantly.  They  not 
only  possess  what  is  essential  in  religion,  but 
"  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our  Saviour  in  all 
things." 

— They  are  the  well-informed — in  malice 
children,  but  in. understanding  full-grown  men; 
not  easily  imposed  upon  ;  having  their  senses 
exercised  to  discern  both  good  and  evil ;  dis- 
tinguishing things  that  differ ;  not  mistaking  a 
weak  conscience  for  a  tender  one ;  not  laying 
on  minor  things  in  religion  the  stress  due  only 
to  the  greater :  for  what  is  the  chaff  to  the 
wheat  ?  It  is  sad  to  look  at  a  people  and  ask, 
"  Is  there  not  one  wise  man  among  you  ?"  But 
how  emboldening  is  it  to  be  able  to  say,  "  I 


REV.   W.   jay's  sermon. 


35 


speak  as  unto  wise  men ;  judge  ye  what  I 
say." 

— They  are  the  consistent.  It  is  a  good 
thing  that  the  heart  be  established  with  grace, 
and  that  we  fall  not  from  our  own  stedfastness. 
Therefore  says  the  apostle,  "  That  we  hence- 
forth be  no  more  children,  tossed  to  and  fro, 
and  carried  about  with  every  wind  of  doctrine, 
by  the  sleight  of  men,  and  cunning  craftiness, 
whereby  they  lie  in  wait  to  deceive."  We  do 
not  admire  a  Reubenite,  of  whom  Jacob  said, 
"  Unstable  as  water,  thou  shalt  not  excel."  A 
changeling  can  be  no  character,  for  character  is 
the  force  and  effect  of  habit ;  and  habit  arises 
from  repetition  and  constancy.  Oh  !  it  is  de- 
lightful to  see  a  man  standing  in  every  evil  day, 
and  saying  by  his  life,  "  My  foot  hath  held  his 
steps,  his  way  have  I  kept,  and  not  declined ; 
neither  have  I  gone  back  from  the  command- 
ment of  his  lips."  Even  in  matters  of  church 
order,  and  discipline,  and  attendance  on  the 
means  of  grace,  steadiness  is  commendable- 
Inconstant  hearers,  now  in  their  places,  and 
now  out  of  them — one  Sabbath  here,  another 
there — rambling  after  novelties,  and  heaping  to 
themselves  teachers — having  itchinor  ears — are 
no  minister's  care,  no  minister's  comfort,  and 


36 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


no  minister's  credit.  Yet  how  many  are  there 
in  our  day,  mere  birds  of  passage  ;  spiritually, 
homeless  vagrants ;  religious  gipsies,  who  pre- 
fer the  lanes  and  hedges,  to  the  rates,  and  du- 
ties, and  privileges  of  the  citizens  of  Zion. 

— They  are  the  amiable — who  not  only  think 
upon  "  whatsoever  things  are  true,  and  whatso- 
ever things  are  honest,  and  whatsoever  things 
are  just,  and  whatsoever  things  are  pure,"  but 
"  whatsoever  things  are  lovely  and  of  good  re- 
porty  Oh  !  there  is  such  a  thing  as  the  beauty 
of  holiness.  There  is  such  a  thing  as  sanctity 
without  sanctimoniousness.  There  is  such  a 
thing  as  a  proper  separation  from  the  world, 
without  saying  to  others,  "  Stand  by  thyself, 
come  not  near  to  me,  I  am  holier  than  thou." 
Oh  !  there  is  such  a  thing  as  rendering  religion 
not  only  impressive,  but  inviting ;  and,  while 
we  enjoy  our  liberty,  not  suffering  our  good  to 
be  evil  spoken  of :  "  and  he  that  in  these  things 
serveth  Christ  is  acceptable  to  God  and  ap- 
proved of  men." 

— They  are  the  mild  and  pacific — who  fol- 
low peace  with  all  men  ;"  and  "  as  much  as 
lieth  in  them  live  peaceably  with  all  men." 
They  are  not  soon  provoked ;  and  they  are 
ready  to  forgive  ;  and  and  the  meekness  of 
wisdom  enables  them  to  say, 


REV,  W.  jay's  sermon. 


37 


"I'll  not  easily  offend, 

Nor  be  easily  offended  ; 
What's  aniiss  I'll  strive  to  mend, 

And  endure  what  can't  be  mended." 

— They  are  the  kind  and  generous — who  de- 
vise liberal  things ;  who  shew  mercy  with 
cheerfulness;  and,  as  they  have  opportunity 
do  good  unto  all  men,  and  especially  to  those 
that  are  of  the  household  of  faith.  The  apostle 
makes  a  difference  between  a  righteous  man  and 
a  good  man  ;  but  says,  it  is  for  a  good  man  one 
would  even  dare  to  die. 

— They  are  the  public -spirited — zealously 
caring  for  the  things  of  God  ;  abundantly  labour- 
ing to  promote  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer  in  their 
own  connexion,  and  at  large  ;  and  evincing  not 
only  by  their  prayers  but  exertions  and  sacrifi- 
ces, that  they  are  on  his  side,  and  fervent  in 
spirit,  while  serving  the  Lord. 

You  see  by  my  rapidity  that  I  can  only  point 
at  these  characters,  for  I  have  not  time  to  de- 
scribe them.  But  these,  these  are  they  that  not 
only  solace  us,  but  complete  and  adorn,  and 
crown  our  rejoicing. 

But  now  it  may  be  asked.  How  stands  the 
case  with  regard  to  you,  my  brethren  of  this 
communion  ?    I  am  not  accustomed  to  give  llat- 
4 


as 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


tering  titles  to  any ;  and  I  do  not,  I  must  not,  I 
will  not,  say  this  of  you'all.  Oh,  that  I  could  ! 
It  would  save  me  many  a  sigh,  and  furnish  me 
with  many  a  song,  on  this  Jubilee.  Yet,  blessed 
be  God,  I  have  reason,  much  reason,  to  be 
thankful  in  the  review  of  this  church  as  a  whole. 
Few  religious  bodies  would  bear  a  comparison 
with  it,  or  furnish  so  many  individuals  who  are 
nothing  less  than  a  "  crown  of  rejoicing." 

But  why  should  not  this  be  the  case  with  all 
of  you  ?  Why  should  not  ail  those  who  are 
our  hearers  become  our  "  hope  ?"  Why  should 
not  all  those  who  are  our  "  hope"  become  our 
*'joy?  Why  should  not  all  who  are  our 
"joy"  become  our  "  crown  of  rejoicing?" 
?  Yea,  and  why  should  the  most  highly  approv- 
ed among  you  be  satisfied  with  any  advances 
you  have  already  made  1  Are  you  above 
Paul  ?  But  Paul  said,  "  This  one  thing  I  do, 
forgetting  the  things  which  are  behind,  and 
reaching  forth  unto  those  things  which  are  be- 
fore, I  press  towards  the  mark  for  the  prize  of 
the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus."  Let  as 
many,  therefore,  as  be  perfect,  be  thus  minded. 

And  here,  in  an  ordinary  service,  I  should 
conclude  my  address :  but  on  this  occasion 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


39 


something  more  will  be  naturally  expected 
from  rae.  And  here  I  feel  a  difficulty.  The 
speaker  must  now  become,  in  a  measure,  his 
own  subject ;  and  who  does  not  know  how  deli- 
cate it  is  for  a  man  to  enlarge  upon  himself  and 
his  own  concerns?  If  he  speaks  favourably  of  his 
attainments  and  exertions,  his  aids  and  success- 
es, he  is  likely  to  be  charged  with  vanity  :  and 
if  he  speaks  in  a  more  lowly  strain,  he  is  then 
likely  to  induce  the  suspicion  of  affectation ; 
and  some  may  still  conclude  that  he  is  angling 
for  praise,  though  now  with  the  bait  of  humility. 

There  are  four  things  which  relieve  and  em- 
bolden me  here.  First,  my  young  friends  na- 
turally and  lawfully  wish  to  hear  a  little  of 
things  which  preceded  them,  but  in  whose 
consequences  they  now  find  themselves  deeply 
concerned.  Secondly,  I  am  not  troubling  the 
public  at  large,  but  speaking  in  my  own  imme- 
diate connexion ;  so  that  others  have  no  right  to 
complain,  or  even  to  criticise.  Thirdly,  my 
age  allows  a  little  more  freedom  than  would  be 
conceded  to  greener  years.  And  lastly,  above 
all,  the  occasion  is  unusual  and  striking ;  and 
few,  I  presume,  would  think  that  it  were  pro- 
per or  possible  to  pass  it  by  without  some  no- 
tice. 


40 


REV.  W.  JAy*S  SERMON. 


David  reigned  in  Jerusalem  forty  years  ;  and 
the  historian  speaks  "  of  the  times  that  passed 
over  him,  and  over  all  Israel,  and  over  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  countries."  My  connexion 
here  is  ten  years  longer  than  his  reign  :  and 
what  times,  my  brethren,  have  passed  over  us 
and  over  others  during  these  fifty  years  !  Dur- 
ing this  period,  what  occurrences  and  excite- 
ments, what  shakings  and  wars,  what  revolu- 
tions and  changes,  have  taken  place  in  the 
nations  of  the  earth !  The  hand  of  God  has 
been  in  all  this  ;  and,  we  are  persuaded,  event- 
ually for  the  improvement  of  mankind,  and  the 
accomplishment  of  his  counsel,  wherein  He 
says,  "  Every  valley  shall  be  exalted,  and  every 
mountain  and  hill  shall  be  made  low  ;  and  the 
crooked  shall  be  made  straight,  and  the  rough 
places  plain  :  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall 
be  revealed,  and  all  flesh  shall  see  it  together : 
for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it." 

We  do  not,  therefore,  ask  why  the  former 
days  were  better  than  these  ;  for,  as  Solomon 
says,  we  should  not  inquire  wisely  concern- 
ing this."  We  have  no  superior  veneration  for 
what  is  called  antiquity.  Lord  Bacon  has  very 
justly  observed,  that  we  are  the  proper  ancients 
of  the  world ;  and  in  proportion  as  we  go  back 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


41 


we  approach  the  world's  infancy.  And  is 
childhood  always  to  govern  age  ?  Is  time  to 
advance,  while  every  thing  else  is  to  lag  be- 
hind ? 

And  what  a  period  has  this  been  for  our  own 
country  !  What  an  extension  of  empire  has 
taken  place — what  increase  of  commerce — 
what  progress  in  science — what  improvement 
in  the  arts — what  gainings  in  the  cause  of  lib- 
erty, by  the  removal  of  invidious  and  unfair 
distinctions,  by  the  substitution  of  justice  for 
toleration,  and  by  the  concession  of  the  right  of 
private  judgment,  and  the  abhorrence  of  perse- 
cution and  bigotry ! 

And  what  a  progress  has  there  been  as  to 
moral  and  spiritual  advantages  !  Some  of  you 
are  not  qualified  to  compare  the  former  and  the 
present  state  of  our  country ;  but  how  am.  I 
struck  with  it,  when  I  look  back,  to  see  how 
the  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  have  been 
made  glad,  and  the  desert  has  rejoiced  and 
blossomed  as  the  rose  !  Since  the  noviciate  of 
my  ministry,  what  a  spirit  has  been  excited — 
what  agencies  have  been  produced — what  so- 
cieties have  been  established — what  a  multitude 
of  sanctuaries  have  been  opened  for  the  wor- 
ship of  God,  and  the  preaching  of  the  gospel — 
4* 


42 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


what  a  spread  of  evangelical  religion,  both  in 
the  Establishment  and  out  of  it  ! 

Do  not  grieve  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  the 
author  of  all  good,  by  not  gratefully  acknow- 
ledging that  much  has  been  done  because  all 
has  not  been  done.  Say  not,  the  greater  part  of 
the  business  has  been  mere  profession  :  there 
has  been  much  really  of  the  power  of  godliness. 
Say  not,  the  zeal  which  now  burns  is  not  of  the 
right  kind  :  it  is  of  the  right  kind.  It  is  reli- 
gion alive  and  in  motion.  It  is  not  speculation ; 
it  is  not  mysticism ;  it  is  not  the  luxury  of  re- 
tirement :  It  is  what  the  day  requires ; — it  is 
activity  in  the  field ;  it  is  seizing  the  means  and 
opportunities  Providence  is  furnishing  us  ;  it  is 
employing  our  hands  as  we  rise  from  our  knees, 
and  after  asking,  "  Lord,  what  wilt  Thou  have 
me  to  do?" 

Besides  the  salvation  of  souls,  (and  how  many 
have  there  been  called  by  divine  grace  !)  we 
ought  not  to  overlook  what  has  been  done  subor- 
dinately,  during  this  period,  by  the  influence  of 
Christianity.  To  this  we  owe  the  noble  exer- 
tions which  have  been  made  in  the  abolition  of 
the  accursed  slave-trade,  and  the  opposition  to 
war  by  our  peace  societies,  and  our  temperance 
meetings,  and  the  education  of  the  poor,  and 


REV.  W.   jay's  SERMON'. 


43 


the  provision  made  to  meet  human  distress  in 
all  its  forms  and  degrees.  And  yet,  forsooth, 
according  to  some,  the  world  is  so  bad,  that  it 
must  soon  come  to  an  end  !  Why,  my  brethren, 
evil  is  not  increased  more  than  formerly ;  but 
the  increase  of  good  makes  it  more  felt,  more 
lamented,  more  opposed,  and  therefore  more 
observed  too. 

But  we  must  draw  a  little  nearer  home,  and 
view  things  more  in  relation  to  ourselves. 
Though  it  is  now  just  half  a  century  since  my 
connexion  with  this  church,  yet  I  laboured 
here  occasionally,  and  sometimes  for  several 
Sabbaths  together,  during  more  than  a  year 
previously  to  my  ordination.  Neither  was  this 
the  commencement  of  my  ministry :  I  began 
preaching  before  I  was  sixteen,  and  had  preach- 
ed nearly  one  thousand  sermons  before  I  was  of 
age.  Now  I  do  not  boast  of  this  ;  yea,  I  should 
rather  reflect  upon  it,  had  it  been  the  result  of 
my  own  forwardness.  But  I  was  under  a  tutor 
whose  authority  I  was  bound  not  to  dispute,  but 
to  obey.  Our  academy  was  at  Marlborough ; 
and  the  state  of  the  villages  all  around  was  truly 
deplorable.  Our  tutor — the  Reverend  Corne- 
lius Winter  (concerning  whom  the  late  Bishop 
Jebb,  in  one  of  his  letters,  exclaims,  "  Oh,  what  a 


44 


REV.  W.  jay's  SERM©N. 


celestial  creature  was  this  Cornelius  Winter!") 
— compassionating  those  who  were  perishing 
for  lack  of  knowledge,  sent  his  students  to  ad- 
dress them  very  early,  and  when  they  would 
have  been  unqualified  for  larger  and  more  regu- 
lar congregations.  But  the  poor  rude  rustics 
required  little  depth  or  accuracy :  they  only 
wanted  to  know  the  faithful  saying,  and  wor- 
thy of  all  acceptation,  that  Jesus  Christ  came 
into  the  world  to  save  sinners." 

In  some  of  those  villages  I  have  preached 
down  many  a  livelong  Sabbath,  in  the  homely 
cottage,  on  the  green  before  the  door,  or  in  some 
open  place  in  the  road,  or  in  a  field  hard  by. 
How  often  have  I  wished  to  revisit  all  these 
hamlets  !  But,  alas  !  how  few  should  I  now 
find  alive,  and  who  would  be  able  to  remember 
— what  he  was  always  then  called — "  the  boy 
preacher." 

Many  of  these  places  we  supplied  on  week- 
day evenings,  as  well  as  on  the  Sabbath,  as  we 
could  afi'ord  time  and  assistance.  To  many  of 
them  we  walked  on  foot ;  from  some  of  them  we 
returned,  for  want  of  accommodation,  the  same 
evening,  whatever  was  the  weather  :  and  from 
none  of  them  received  we  the  least  remunera- 
tion. 


REV.  W.  JAY  S  SERMON. 


45 


We  seldom  encountered  persecution.  This 
depends  very  much  always  on  the  preacher : 
and  our  prudent  tutor  taught  us  not  to  rail  and 
abuse,  but  simply  to  preach  the  truth ;  and  to 
avoid  the  offence  of  folly  when  we  could  not 
avoid  the  offence  of  the  cross. 

I  shall  never  forget  with  w^hat  eagerness  and 
feelincr  these  villages  received  the  words  of 
life.  The  common  people  heard  us  gladly,  and 
the  poor  had  the  gospel  preached  unto  them ; 
not  by  "  the  poor  man's  church,"  but  by  those 
who  then  supplied  their  lack  of  service. 

Upon  leaving  the  academy  I  felt  myself  too 
young  to  undertake  the  pastoral  office.  I  there- 
fore chose  an  obscure  village,  where  I  had 
preached  frequently  while  a  student,  to  enjoy 
retreat  and  to  pursue  my  improvement.  Income 
I  looked  not  after,  provided  my  personal  wants 
were  supplied.  My  fixed  salary,  therefore,  was 
thirty-five  pounds  a  year,  and  my  board  in  a 
private  family.  But  being  then  known,  and  not 
unpopular,  I  was  frequently  drawn  forth  to  sup- 
ply the  neighbouring  churches  ;  and  being  ill- 
supplied  with  books,  the  design  of  my  retire- 
ment was  very  imperfectly  answered. 

I  then  met  with  Lady  Maxwell,  who  engaged 
me  to  officiate  in  her  chapel  at  the  Hotwells. 


46 


REV.   W   jay's  sermon. 


There  I  was  for  nearly  a  year,  not  witliout 
proofs  of  acceptance  and  usefulness,  as  the  place 
was  filled  and  crowded.  I  was  therefore  pressed 
by  her  ladyship  to  take  the  oversight  of  the  con- 
gregation. At  the  same  time,  having  preached 
in  Bath  before  and  during  the  illness  of  my  pre- 
decessor here — (who  with  his  dying  breath  re- 
commended me  to  succeed  him) — I  received  an 
invitation  also  to  settle  in  Argyle  chapel.  For 
a  time  I  was  perplexed ;  but  while  deliberating 
on  these  two  proposals,  some  circumstances 
arose  which  immediately  determined  ray  move- 
ment towards  this  city.  The  step  was  to  me 
an  event  of  unspeakable  importance  ;  but  it  was 
instantly  followed  by  a  conviction  that  I  was 
where  I  ought  to  be  :  and  this  conviction  never 
for  a  moment  wavered.  Disregarding,  therefore, 
all  subsequent  offers  to  change  my  situation 
(and  some  of  them,  compared  to  my  salary, 
were  very  lucrative,)  I  resolved  to  continue  in 
a  connexion  which  has  proved  a  peculiarly 
happy  one  ;  but  which  has,  as  you  here  see, 
witnessed  the  lapse  of  the  larger  and  better  part 
of  my  life.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  first 
text  I  ever  preached  from  among  those  who 
were  to  become  my  "hope,"  and  "joy,"  and 
"  crown  of  rejoicing,"  was,  "  What  I  do  thou 


REV.   W.  JAY  S  SERMON. 


47 


knowest  not  now,  but  thou  shalt  know  here- 
after." 

Some  time  after  the  acceptance  of  the  call,  I 
was  ordained — fifty  years  ago  yesterday.  The 
charge  was  addressed  to  me  by  my  honoured 
friend  and  tutor,  Mr.  Winter ;  and  the  sermon  to 
the  people  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  John 
Adams,  of  Salisbury.  1  was  a  young  pastor — • 
but  the  people  despised  not  my  youth  ;  and,  un- 
der various  deficiencies  and  inexperience,  they 
patiently  waited  for  more  maturity  from  ripen- 
ing seasons. 

Without  entering  into  the  minuteness  of  any 
human  system  of  divinity  (which  I  would  not  do 
for  any  people  under  heaven,)  I  engaged  to 
preach  Mr.  Hervey's  three  R's,  as  they  have 
been  called, — Ruin,  redemption,  and  regenera- 
tion ;  ruin  by  Adam,  redemption  by  Christ,  and 
regeneration  by  the  Spirit.  From  these  princi- 
ples— and  these  are  principles — I  have  never 
seen  cause  yet  to  swerve.  And  though,  in  this 
long  course  of  things,  there  have  been  many 
"  Lo,  here's,"  and  "  Lo,  there's,"  I  have  been 
too  much  bent  on  the  good  old  way  to  be  attract- 
ed by  them.  If  in  any  minor  things  I  have  ever 
differed  from  my  brethren,  and  have  had  faith, 
I  have  had  it  to  myself  before  God ;  or  I  have 


48 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


said,  "  Let  every  one  be  fully  persuaded  in  his 
own  mind." 

With  regard  to  abstruse  speculations  —  to 
which  I  was  naturally  much  inclined — I  was, 
after  no  inconsiderable  reading  and  inquiry, 
constrained  to  draw  off  my  attention  ;  having  a 
full  conviction  that,  if  these  things  were  not  so 
useless  as  not  to  merit  regard,  they  were  too 
high  to  be  reached,  or  too  deep  to  be  fathomed : 
and  therefore  of  such  subjects  I  have  long  been 
very  contentedly  ignorant.  We  shall  know, 
in  a  few  moments  after  we  enter  the  world  of 
light,  much  more  than  we  could  acquire  here 
by  the  laborious  study  of  many  years ;  while 
the  precious  time  and  attention  saved  from  im- 
pertinences can  be  rendered  profitable  to  life 
and  godliness.  I  have  valued  nothing  in  teach- 
ing since  I  have  been  here  but  what  had,  at 
least  in  my  own  conviction,  a  practical  bearing 
on  the  conscience  and  conduct;  fully  persuad- 
ed that,  "  as  the  body  without  the  spirit  is  dead, 
so  faith  without  works  is  dead  also." 

But  what  is  preaching  without  impression  and 
effect  ?  And  is  nothing  here  to  be  sacrificed  to 
secure  this  ?  Can  you  plant  a  flower  without 
bending,  or  lift  up  a  child  from  the  ground 
without  stooping  1  Is  there  to  be  no  difference 


REV.  \v,  jay's  sermon.  '49 

between  the  press  and  the  pulpit  ?  Are  preach- 
ers only  to  consider  what  will  be  gratifying  to 
scholars,  and  overlook  the  mass  of  their  audi- 
ence ?  "  The  words  of  the  wise  are  as  goads 
and  as  nails."  There  is  no  informing  the  mul- 
titude in  the  way  of  dissertation  :  argument  with 
them  is  nothing,  unless  it  be  brief,  and  illustrat- 
ed by  comparison  :  and  no  feeling  is  to  be  pro- 
duced without  facts,  examples,  natural  imagery, 
touches  of  passion,  and  strokes  of  imagination. 
How  few  are  there  of  those  who  very  freely 
pronounce  on  preachers,  who  are  proper  judges 
of  what  is  necessary  to  rouse  the  careless  mind, 
CO  relieve  the  jaded  attention,  to  recal  the  wan- 
dering thought,  to  fix  a  sentiment,  to  furnish  a 
handle  to  an  idea,  so  that  it  may  be  laid  hold  of 
and  carried  away ;  to  put  a  picture  over  the 
lesson  of  the  child  ;  to  honey  the  vessel  con- 
taining the  medicine  which  the  patient  is  by  no 
means- willing  to  receive  !  Yet  we  are  talked 
of,  and  we  are  censured,  by  persons  who  con- 
sider condescension  as  a  want  of  taste,  and  a 
plainness  of  address  as  vulgarity,  and  who  never 
take  into  the  account  our  situation  as  ministers, 
our  difficulties,  and  our  aims.  I  remember,  a 
French  king  wished  that  all  his  subjects  could 

be  kings  for  a  few  months;  for,  he  said,  it  would 
5 


50 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


free  them  from  envy  and  reflection.  I  wish 
that  all  our  hearers,  upon  the  same  principle, 
could  be  preachers  for  a  few  months  ;  for,  I  am 
sure,  it  would  disarm  them  of  those  free  and 
foolish  remarks  in  which  they  now  often  in- 
dulge. However,  I  bless  God  I  have  never  re- 
garded fastidious  criticism,  or  resigned  one  par- 
ticle of  that  freedom  by  which  I  could  use  any 
thing  important  or  convertible  to  popular  edifi- 
cation. Is  not  one  sentiment,  though  it  may  be 
quaintly  expressed,  which  is  remembered  and 
repeated  by  numbers  twenty  years  afterwards, 
better  than  a  whole  sermon  of  tame  smooth- 
ness, which  slides  oflf  from  the  mind  like  oil  or 
mercury  down  a  slant  marble,  and  is  forgotten 
before  the  admiring  audience  have  even  reach- 
ed their  own  homes  ? 

The  state  of  things  at  my  coming  to  Bath  was 
not  considerable,  but  it  was  encouraging  ;  and 
there  seemed  to  be  an  open  door,  and  not  only 
room,  but  a  call  for  increased  exertion.  Our 
Baptist  friends  had  a  church,  but  it  allowed  of 
no  mixed  communion.  The  Wesleyans  had  an 
interest,  which  was  very  prosperous  ;  and  there 
was  a  chapel  belonging  to  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon,  which  had  been  a  great  blessing, 
but  it  was  then  supplied  by  episcopalian  minis- 


REV.  W.  jay's  SERMON'. 


51 


ters  only ;  and  the  exclusion  of  other  preachers 
who  had  laboured  there  before  gave  rise  to  a 
secession  of  persons  who  had  been  awakened, 
and  converted,  and  edified,  by  their  labours. 
This  led,  eventually,  to  the  formation  of  the  In- 
dependent church  here :  for  the  seceding  mem- 
bers were  encouraged  by  their  former  ministers, 
and  especially  by  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill  (who 
all  through  life  ever  took  the  liberal  side  of 
things,)  to  secure  a  place,  and  to  act  for  them- 
selves ;  which  they  immediately  did.  In  the 
Church  of  England  there  was  nothinoj  vv'hich 
the  evangelical  clerg}^  who  visited  Bath  would, 
according  to  their  views,  consider  the  gospel ; 
and  none  of  them  could  gain  admittance  into 
any  pulpit  of  the  Establishment  here  for  many 
years  after  my  settlement,  except  that  of  my 
respected  father-in-law,  who  was  then  officiat- 
ing at  Batheaston,  though  his  living  was  at  a 
distance.  Perhaps  the  opinion  of  such  a  man 
as  jNIr.  Wilberforce,  an  episcopalian  himself, 
concerning  the  state  of  things  here  at  that  pe- 
riod, may  be  more  regarded  than  my  own.  In 
one  of  his  letters,  after  kindly  admonishing  me 
(and  the  admonition  was  not  needless  or  use- 
less) to  be  very  explicitly  evangelical  in  every 
discourse,  he  says,  "  I  am  aware  that  your  own 


52 


REV.  W.  jay's  SERMON". 


congregation  may  not  stand  in  need  of  this  ;  hut 
indeed,  my  dear  sir,  you  are  a  debtor  both  to 
Greeks  and  barbarians.  Consider  the  situation 
in  which  you  stand — not  another  minister  in 
Bath  whom  any  of  the  poor,  wretched  upper 
classes  are  likely  to  hear  who  preaches  the 
gospel !  They  come,  perhaps,  to  your  chapel ; 
they  never  heard  the  word  of  life  before ;  they 
never  may  have  another  opportunity.  Pity 
them,  my  dear  sir,  as  I  know  you  do.  They 
above  all  others  deserve  to  be  pitied.  I,  alas  ! 
have  been  more  acquainted  with  them  than  you, 
and  am  thereby  the  more  impressed  with  the 
sense  of  their  wretched  ignorance  in  spiritual 
things — " 

The  peculiarity,  therefore,  of  my  situation 
influenced,  in  a  considerable  degree,  my  preach- 
ing and  my  ministry.  I  saw  that  the  impression 
must  be  very  much  made  in  the  pulpit :  and  I 
kept  my  eye,  not  only  upon  my  home-hearers, 
but  upon  strangers,  who,  at  that  time,  often 
peculiarly  needed  evangelical  information,  and 
who,  if  they  obtained  good,  would  carry  it  away 
and  disperse  it  in  their  own  neighbourhood.  And 
I  cannot  but  bless  God  for  the  number  of  persons 
who  have  made  acknowledgments  of  this  kind  ; 
and  no  few  of  whom  were  ministers,  or  becamre 


REV.  W.  jay's  SERMOX. 


63 


such,  nor  less  than  seven  of  these  episcopa- 
lians. 

A  church,  therefore,  of  our  own  faith  and 
order,  seemed  to  be  here  desired.  To  this  en- 
couragement was  given,  not  only  by  residents, 
but  by  visiters.  One,  in  particular,  from  Lon- 
don, a  banker,  who  nearly,  if  not  entirely,  at  his 
own  expense,  fitted  up  the  old  Roman-Catholic 
chapel  (which,  for  the  glory  of  God,  had  been 
burned  down  in  the  Gordon  riots),  and  engaged 
on  his  recommendation  of  a  minister,  to  support 
him  till  the  people  were  able  to  bear  the  burden. 
That  house,  now  used  by  our  friends  the  Qua- 
kers, proving  too  small,  my  predecessor,  encou- 
raged especially  by  Lady  Glenorchy,  who  pro- 
mised a  considerable  sum  (which  was  lost  by 
her  untimely  death),  and  others  of  his  friends, 
was  induced  to  undertake  the  erection  of  this 
place.  When  ready  for  use,  that  excellent  man 
of  God  for  whom  it  was  erected  was  too  ill  to 
open  it,  though  he  was  present :  I  therefore 
performed  all  the  services  of  the  day  ;  and,  as  I 
was  the  first  preacher  in  this  place,  so  I  have 
been  the  only  pastor  of  this  people. 

I  only  add,  that  this  church  was  from  the 

beginning  as  liberal  in  its  discipline  as  a  regard 

to  its  purity  would  allow,  never  refusing  oc- 
5* 


54 


REV.  W.  jay's  SERMON'. 


casional  fellowship  to  communicants  of  otheT 
churches:  and  though  no  lion  was  placed  at  the 
door  of  entrance,  and  though  no  accounts  of 
conversion  and  experience  were  exacted  before 
all,  what  a  small  number  from  the  beginning 
here  has  ever  been  excommunicated,  or  even 
suspended  from  the  holy  communion  !  It  is 
remarkable,  that,  during  the  fifty  years  we  have 
been  reviewing,  there  has  been  no  division,  no 
discord,  no  jar. 

As  the  cause  has  prospered  much,  there  have 
been  several  enlargements  of  the  chapel,  the 
last  of  which  was  very  expensive ;  but  all  has 
been  paid  for,  and  the  place  set  clear  by  the 
generosity  of  the  church  and  the  congregation, 
which  has  afforded  me  no  little  gratification. 

Such  are  the  reflections  derivable  from  the 
subject  of  our  text,  and  the  occasion  of  the  day. 
And  now  what  can  1  add  more  ?  As  I  ascended 
this  desk,  and  looked  down  upon  this  vast 
audience,  I  said  to  myself,  Ah !  where  will  all 
this  assembly  be  by  the  return  of  this  Jubilee  1 
Some  of  you  will  remain,  and  perhaps  you  will 
then  be  talking  over  what  is  now  passing  here  : 
but  where,  oh  where,  will  the  majority  of  you 
be  found  then  ? 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


55 


As  to  many  of  us,  a  much  shorter  period  will 
have  removed  us,  and  the  places  that  now  know 
us  will  know  us  no  more  for  ever.  Other 
occupiers  will  fill  these  pews ;  other  singers  will 
lead  the  psalmody  when  the  voices  of  those  who 
now  charm  us  will  be  silent  in  the  grave  :  and 
another  voice  will  be  heard  in  this  pulpit  than 
that  which  has  filled  it  for  fifty  years  past. 

To  how  many  of  you  is  my  ordination  a 
matter  of  history  !  You  have  been  born  since 
that  day  which  many  of  your  fathers  and  mothers 
attended.  How  many  of  you  have  I  taken  in 
these  hands,  and  offered  to  God  in  holy  bap- 
tism !  How  many  of  you  have  I  hailed  at  your 
coming  to  the  table  of  the  Lord  !  And  how 
many  of  your  connexions  have  I  followed  to  our 
l.mrying-ground  !  "  Ah!"  says  one,  "  there  lies 
my  cherub  child !"  "  And,"  says  another, 
"  there  lies  the  desire  of  mine  eyes,  taken  away 
with  a  stroke."  "  And  there,"  says  another, 
"lies  the  guide  of  my  youth."  I  am  glad, 
therefore,  when  every  church  has  a  place  of 
interment  of  their  own :  it  seems  keeping  up 
still  a  kind  of  connexion  with  the  departed. 
Our  dead  lie  not  amonsf  strangers.  "  There  I 
buried  Abraham,  and  Sarah  his  wife  ;  there  I 
buried  Isaac,  and  Rebecca  his  wife  ;  and  there  I 


56 


REV.  W.   JAr's  SERMON. 


buried  Leah."  We  have  all  our  precious  dust 
in  yonder  ground  !  where  is  the  person  belong- 
ing to  us  who  does  not  go  to  the  grave  to  weep 
there  ?  I  am  sometimes  ready  to  be  jealous 
lest  our  burying-place  should  become  richer 
than  our  church.  But  no ;  instead  of  the 
fathers  are  the  children.  Our  sons  are  plants 
grown  up  in  their  youth;  our  daughters  are 
corner-stones,  polished  after  the  similitude  of 
palaces  :  and  we  haye  a  noble  band  of  the 
young  and  middle-aged,  who  have  covenanted 
with  God,  and  who  are  saying,  We  will  not 
forsake  the  house  of  our  God.  Oh,  how  does 
old  age,  while  it  leaves  life,  peel  off  continually 
its  connexions,  till  we  seem  left  even  as  a  beacon 
upon  the  top  of  a  mountain,  or  as  an  ensign 
upon  the  hill  !  Oh,  how  many  of  the  various 
relations  of  life,  during  such  a  varied  and  exten- 
sive acquaintance  as  mine,  have  gone  down  to 
the  dust,  and  have  seen  corruption !  How 
many  ministers  have  been  taken  away  !  "  The 
fathers,  where  are  they  ?  and  the  prophets,  do 
they  live  for  ever  ?-"  Of  all  the  ministers  that 
belonged  to  the  Wiltshire  Association  when  I 
entered  it,  I  am  the  only  survivor :  and  of  all 
those  who  signed  my  call  when  I  came  here, 
only  one  remains,  whose  venerable  head  you 


REV.  W,   jay's  sermon. 


57 


would  have  seen  here  this  day  but  for  indispo- 
sition. And,  oh !  what  a  curtaihnent  are  fifty 
years  in  a  brief  duration  like  ours !  Your 
preacher,  therefore,  feels  this ;  and  though,  in 
some  measure,  he  can  talk  like  Caleb,  who  said, 
"  As  yet  I  am  as  strong  this  day  as  I  was  in 
tlie  day  that  Moses  sent  me  :  as  my  strength 
was  then,  even  so  is  my  strength  now,  for  war, 
both  to  go  out  and  to  come  in;"  yet  he  does  not 
forget  that  the  days  of  our  years  are  threescore 
years  and  ten.  Yes  ;  therefore  a  period  cannot 
be  far  remote  when,  as  he  hopes  he  shall  never 
stand  in  the  way  of  usefulness,  he  will  either 
entirely  resign  his  labours,  or  share  them  with 
another:  and,  though  he  knows  the  extreme 
difficulty  attached  to  a  concern  where  three 
parties  are  so  deeply  interested,  the  Lord  can 
provide. 

Now  I  seem  to  be  taking  a  farewell  of  the 
fifty  years  which  I  have  passed  within  these 
happy  walls  !  What  a  difference  between  the 
day  of  which  I  am  reminded,  and  this  day  ! 
Then,  I  was  rapidly  entering  life :  I  am  now 
gradually  withdrawing  from  it.  Then,  I  was 
commencing  my  voyage  across  an  untried 
ocean  :  now,  with  the  glass  in  my  hand,  I  am 
looking  for  the  fair  havens.    Then,  I  was  a 


68 


REV.  W.  jay's  sermon. 


mere  youth:  now,  surrounded  with  children  and 
grand-children.  What  was  then  anxiety  is  now 
repose  ;  what  was  then  hope  is  now  accomplish- 
ment ;  what  was  then  prayer  is  now  praise. 
What  a  season  of  humiliation,  you  will  naturally 
conclude,  must  this  have  been  !  We  are  hardly 
aware  of  our  deficiencies  and  imperfections  till 
something  occurs  which  drives  us  to  retire,  and 
reflect,  and  review.  But  who  can  look  back 
upon  fifty  years,  and  not  exclaim,  "  Enter  not 
into  judgment  with  thy  servant,  O  Lord  :  for  in 
thy  sight  shall  no  flesh  living  be  justified."  "  0 
Lord,  if  Thou  shouldest  mark  iniquity,  0  Lord, 
who  can  stand  !"  Yet  what  a  season  of  thanks- 
giving ought  it  to  be  !  How  has  my  life  been 
indulged !  How  few  have  been  so  satisfied  with 
favour,  and  filled  with  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  ! 
Yet  I  have  had  trials  enough  to  remind  me  that 
"  full  bliss  is  bliss  divine."  Though  I  have  not 
drunk  deep  of  the  cup,  I  have  tasted  the  bitter- 
ness of  affliction.  One  trial  has  pressed  upon 
me  with  peculiar  force  ;  and  concerning  which 
I  should  have  been  ready  to  say.  Lord,  afflict  me 
in  any  other  point — but  his  ways  are  judgment. 

But  what  deliverances  have  I  experienced 
during  this  period  !  Serious  attacks  of  indis- 
position formerly  prepared  me  to  expect  an 


REV.  w.  jay's  sermon.  59 


abbreviated  ministry ;  and  perhaps  you  looked 
for  it  too  :  but,  having  obtained  help  of  God,  I 
continue  to  this  day  ;  and,  after  all  the  Ebene- 
zers  I  have  reared  along  the  road,  I  now  rear 
the  largest  of  them  all.  And 

"  Here  in  thy  house  I  leave  my  vows, 

And  thy  rich  ^ace  record  : 
Witness,  ye  saints,  who  hear  me  now, 
If  I  forsake  the  Lord." 


REV.  T.  EAST'S  SERMON. 


*♦  They  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars 
for  ever  and  ever."  Daniel  xii.  3. 

There  is  a  sight  which  is  sometimes  seen  by 
others,  but  which  you,  as  a  congregation,  have 
never  beheld — a  deserted  pulpit  in  mourning. 
From  such  a  heart-rending  ^scene,  easily 
sketched  in  the  imagination,  I  turn  to-night  to 
the  vision  of  life ;  and,  with  feelings  I  shall 
not  attempt  to  describe,  congratulate  you,  my 
Christian  brethren,  that,  instead  of  being  assem- 
bled together  to  listen  to  the  deep  sepulchral 
voice  of  death,  the  sweeter,  shriller,  softer  notes 
of  Jubilee  have  just  struck  upon  your  ear.* — 
Your  esteemed  minister — not  more  esteemed 
by  you  than  by  myself — has  often  stood  where 
I  now  stand,  and  gazed  in  the  silent  agony  of 
grief  on  the  memorials  of  death  presented  to 
his  eye  from  almost  every  pew  in  this  chapel. 

*  The  congregation  had  just  been  singing  the  hymn,  "  Blow  ye 
the  trampet,  blow." 


REV.  T.   east's  sermon. 


61 


But  hitherto  the  shield  of  the  divine  protection 
has  been  around  his  life ;  and  he  still  lives  to 
execute  that  sacred  trust  committed  to  his 
charge  in  the  days  of  your  fathers.  And  where 
are  they — the  friends  of  his  youth,  and  the 
glory  of  his  riper  years  7  If  I  could  now  lift  up 
the  veil  which  conceals  the  unseen  world,  you 
might  behold  them  shining  as  the  brightness 
of  the  celestial  firmament,  thinking  of  him  to 
whose  faithful  administrations  they  attribute 
their  being  "  turned  to  righteousness  ;"  and  an- 
ticipating, with  ineffable  delight,  that  hour  you 
so  much  dread,  when  he  also,  having  finished 
his  course,  shall  enter  into  rest,  there  to  shine 
"  as  a  star  for  ever  and  ever." 

The  private  Christian,  who  has  wisely 
"  chosen  that  better  part  which  cannot  be  taken 
away  from  him,"  and  the  faithful  minister  of 
Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the  means  of  "  turning 
many  to  righteousness,"  are  living  in  the  anti- 
cipation of  the  same  glorious  issue  of  their 
faith  ;  and  when  the  end  of  their  faith  is  real- 
ized, though  there  may  be  some  obvious  marks 
of  distinction — as  the  star,  which  reflects  light, 
is  necessarily  more  conspicuous  than  the  firma- 
ment which  is  merely  pervaded  by  it — yet  the 
distinction  will  neither  generate  pride  nor  ex- 


62 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


cite  envy,  as  each  one  will  appear  in  his  own 
order  and  in  his  own  glory ;  while  all  will 
ascribe  their  salvation  to  Him  that  sitteth  upon 
the  throne,  and  to  the  Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever. 

In  improving  the  service  of  the  evening,  al- 
low me  to  call  your  attention, 

I.  To  the  work  assigned  to  the  faithful  minis- 
ter of  Jesus  Christ.  And, 

II.  To  the  recompence  he  may  anticipate, 
and  will  ultimately  receive. 

I.  The  work  assigned  to  the  Christian 
MINISTER— which  is,  to  "  turn  many  to  righte- 
ousness." 

I.  Their  work  is  specific  and  of  unparalleled 
importance.  They  are  not  appointed  to  their 
office  to  acquire  distinction  as  men  of  learning, 
of  science,  of  literature,  of  magisterial  dignity  ; 
or  to  be  the  leaders  of  a  sectarian  party  whose 
only  cry  is,  "  The  temple  of  the  Lord,  the  tem- 
ple of  the  Lord,  the  temple  of  the  Lord  are 
we  :"  but  to  "  turn  many  to  righteousness" — 
this  is  their  work. 

By  this  definite  expression,  we  are  not  to 
suppose  that  their  work  consists  merely  in 
turning  men  from  a  course  of  practical  impiety 
to  practical  virtue  ;  as  that  may  be  done  while 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


63 


the  primary  object  of  ministerial  labour  is  left 
unaccomplished.  Man,  irrespective  of  his  so- 
cial habits  of  virtue  or  of  vice,  is  a  sinner 
against  God — guilty  and  depraved,  and  involved 
in  a  sentence  of  condemnation  from  which 
there  is  no  deliverance  but  through  the  redemp- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ.  To  convince  him  of  his 
guilt,  that  he  may  repent  of  sin  ;  and  of  his  dan- 
ger, that  he  may  believe  in  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ ;  is  the  work  assigned  to  the  faithful 
minister  of  the  gospel :  and,  when  successful, 
the  sinner,  like  the  condemned  criminal  whose 
sentence  is  remitted,  passes  from  death  unto 
life,  is  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  his  mind,  and 
made  a  partaker  of  the  purity  of  the  divine  na- 
ture. And  thouo^h  some,  who  are  ignorant  of 
the  provision  which  the  gospel  makes  to  guard 
the  sanctity  of  the  law  amidst  the  splendid 
triumphs  of  sovereign  and  unmerited  grace,  may 
imagine  that  we  endanger  the  interest  of  social 
virtue  by  placing  the  salvation  of  man  exclusive- 
ly on  the  redemption  of  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord; 
yet,  my  brethren,  the  apostles  tell  us — and  their 
testimony  is  confirmed  by  observation  and  prac- 
tical experience — that  as  "there  is  no  condem- 
nation to  them  who  are  in  Christ  Jesus,''  so 
also  in  them  "  the  righteousness  of  the  law  is 


64 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


fulfilled and  after  this  great  personal  and  re- 
lative change  has  been  effected,  their  future 
course  is  impelled,  not  by  the  tendencies  of  a 
fallen  and  a  depraved,  but  of  a  renewed  and 
sanctified  nature  ;  they  walk  not  after  the  flesh, 
but  after  the  Spirit. 

The  work  then  assigned  to  the  minister  of 
Jesus  Christ  is  to  "  turn  many  to  righteousness;" 
v/hich  is  of  unparalleled  importance  to  man 
individually,  and  to  man  relatively. 

It  is  important,  my  friends,  in  relation  to  your 
•personal  safety.  You  may  have  every  social 
virtue  adorning  your  character — an  amiable  tem- 
per, a  sweet  disposition  ;  all  the  relative  duties 
of  life  may  be  discharged  with  promptness  and 
facility  ;  there  may  be  no  apparent  flaw  in  your 
character :  but,  if  you  have  no  interest  in  the 
redemption  of  Christ,  you  are  like  the  condemned 
traitor  who  is  allowed  to  walk  abroad,  but  who  is 
never  secure — his  life  being  forfeited,  and  may 
be  demanded  any  moment. 

Therefore  it  becomes  a  question  of  vast  im- 
portance to  your  personal  safety,  and  to  your 
personal  happiness.  The  language  of  the  Apos- 
tle is  very  beautiful  and  very  simple.  "  Being 
justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.    And  not  only 


REV.   T.   east's  sermon. 


65 


so,  but  we  can  rejoice  even  with  joy  that  is 
unspeakable  and  full  of  glory." 

It  is  important  in  relation  to  the  'personal  dig- 
nity of  man.  We  often  see  a  fine  assemblage 
of  ^'irtues  hovering  around  the  reputation  of  men, 
who  are  known  to  treat  with  insufferable  con- 
tempt the  redemption  of  Jesus  Christ  as  the 
originating  cause  of  their  production.  But  then 
we  see  these  virtues  associated  with  principles 
which  tarnish  the  lustre,  and  render  them  quite 
recarious  in  the  continuance.  The  man  of 
Honour  fears  not  God.  Generosity  is  associat- 
ed with  licentiousness.  Compassion  for  physi" 
cal  wretchedness  disdains  to  contribute  to  the 
relief  of  spiritual  misery-  The  intrepid  advo- 
cate of  civil  liberty  is  a  persecutor  of  the  faith- 
ful in  Christ  Jesus.  And  only  let  a  change  take 
place  in  their  relative  position  in  society  ; — let 
them  be  brought  down  from  the  pinnacle  of 
greatness  to  the  valley  of  humiliation ;  or  be 
called  to  follow  the  desire  of  their  eyes,  or  their 
first-born,  to  the  tomb ;  and  how  often  will  they 
open  a  grave  with  their  own  hands,  or  utter 
words  of  blasphemy,  or  cherish  malignant  feel- 
ing against  God,  who  has  suffered  these  evils  to 
come  upon  them.     But  the  moral  principles 

which  constitute  and  adorn  the  character  of  the 
6* 


66 


KEV.   T.  EAST'S  SERMON. 


Christian,  who  has  been  created  anew  in  Christ 
Jesus,  have  no  such  associated  rices  to  tarnish 
their  lustre,  or  endanger  their  permanent  ex- 
istence.   He,  like  the  man   of  constitutional 
virtue,  may  see  changes  in  the  aspect  of  Provi- 
dence ;   but  the  strength  and  stability  of  his 
principles  will  prove  equal  to  the  occasions  of 
their  exercise;  and  in  the  decline  of  life,  and 
under  the  severest  trials,  no  less  than  in  the 
"vigour  of  his  days,  when  all  things  prospered 
around  him,  he  will  appear,  without  ostentation, 
invested  with  a  moral  dignitj-,  which  will  com- 
pel even  strangers  to  the  peculiar  character  of 
his  principles  to  admire  and  applaud  them. 

This  work  of  turning  many  to  righteousness 
is  of  unparalleled  importance  in  relation  to  man 
relatively. 

My  esteemed  friends,  your  minister  said  in 
the  morning  that  the  peculiar  circumstances  of 
the  day  really  justified  references  and  allusions, 
which  he  other\^-ise  could  not  have  made  from 
the  pulpit.  I  feel  it  necessary-  to  plead  the  pe- 
culiar circumstances  of  the  day,  as  an  apolog}'- 
for  these  personal  references,  which  I  cannot 
avoid  making,  unless  I  suppress  a  communica- 
tion which  I  think  will  give  you  pleasure  to 
hear ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  will  shew  the 


REV.  T.   east's  sermon. 


67 


unparalleled  importance  of  turning  men  to  righte- 
ousness, viewing  them  as  standing  in  relation  to 
each  other. 

The  recovery  of  the  South  Sea  Islands  from 
the  dominion  of  idolatry — the  publication  of  the 
Missionary  Enterprise" — the  sailing  of  the 
ship  Camden,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Thames, 
on  an  extraordinary  voyage  of  discovery — the 
erection  of  Spring  Hill  college,  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Birmingham,  which  bids  fair  to  be 
one  of  the  most  important  institutions  of  Europe 
— the  religious  experience  of  the  person  who 
now  addresses  you,  with  all  he  possesses  as  a 
citizen  of  this  world,  and  all  he  anticipates  as  a 
candidate  for  immortality — may  be  traced  up  to 
the  successful  labours  of  your  pastor. 

Some  years  ago,  Mr.  Jay  preached  a  sermon 
London,  which  was  the  means  of  the  conver- 
n  of  a  young  man,  possessing  rather  superior 
^3nts,  who  entered  the  ministry,  rose  to  a  con- 
siderable eminence,  and  was  rendered  very 
useful  in  turning  many  to  righteousness.  This 
minister  was  preaching  in  Castle-street  chapel 
in  Reading,  when  I  was  a  wild  lad — a  specula- 
tive and  a  practical  infidel.    I  had  often  made  a 
mock  of  sin;  but  that  did  not  satisfy  me — I  made 
a  mock  of  righteousness.    Thirty-nine  years 


68 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


ago  last  November  I  resolved  to  go  to  the  chapel 
once  more,  intending,  on  the  following  week,  to 
leave  my  native  country  for  ever,  without  letting 
any  one  know  my  purpose  ;  when,  with  a  usual 
form  of  expression — the  last  time  I  ever  used 
it,  and  one  I  dare  not  repeat  here — I  said  I  was 
going  to  turn  Methodist.  Nothing  was  further 
from  my  expectation  or  from  my  desire.  I  heard 
that  minister  preach  who  attributed  his  conver- 
sion to  the  labours  of  your  pastor.  God  blessed 
that  sermon,  I  hope,  to  my  salvation.  I  claim, 
then,  your  minister  as  my  grandsire  in  the  faith 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Soon  after  this  great 
change  took  place.  Providence  brought  me  to 
Bath ;  and  here,  from  his  lips,  I  received,  with 
meekness,  I  trust,  the  pure  milk  of  the  word,  and 
became  established  in  the  faith. 

Seven-and-twenty  years  ago  to-night,  in  the 
providence  of  God,  I  was  called  to  preach  a 
sermon  at  the  Tabernacle  in  London.  A  young 
man,  of  gay  habits,  and  fme  natural  talents,  who 
was  going  to  spend  the  evening  at  a  tavern  at 
Islington,  with  some  of  his  gay  and  dissipated 
companions,  was  induced  to  enter,  heard  the 
sermon,  felt  its  power,  offered  his  services  to 
the  Missionary  Society,  and  went  forth  to  preach 


REV.  T.   east's  sermon. 


69 


the  Gospel.  That  young  man  was  John  Wil- 
liams, the  missionary. 

A  few  years  ago,  the  providence  of  God 
threw  me  into  connexion  with  a  gentleman  who 
had  long  lived  a  stranger  to  the  grace  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  In  answer  to  prayer,  and 
by  the  influence  of  example  and  conversation, 
he  was  brought  to  the  faith  of  Jesus,  and  was 
so  delighted  with  the  mysterious  change,  that, 
when  walking  with  me  in  his  sister's  garden,  he 
said,  "  Mr.  East,  I  will  give  you  such  an  estate 
if  you  can  tell  what  to  do  with  it."  I  replied, 
after  a  momentary  pause,  "We  will  found  a  col- 
lege for  the  education  of  young  men  for  the 
ministry."  He,  with  his  sisters,  gave  estates, 
worth  at  least  twenty  thousand  pounds,  and  he 
brought  me  twenty  thousand  pounds  in  money. 
The  whole  thing  v/as  arranged,  and  now  it  is  in 
the  act  of  being  brought  into  practical  execu- 
tion. 

All  this  may  be  traced  up  to  that  one  sermon 
which  your  honoured  minister  preached,  when 
God  attended  it  with  divine  power. 

We  see,  then,  the  importance  of  one  man 
being  "  turned  to  righteousness"  in  relation  to 
other  men,  to  the  families  of  other  men,  to  the 
sectional  parts  of  society  where  other  men  live, 


70  REV.  T,  east's  sermon. 

to  distant  parts  of  the  world  :  and  the  effect  of 
that  sermon  will  not  be  expended  till  the  last 
redeemed  sinner  is  taken  safe  home  to  eternal 
glory. 

Nor  is.  it  confined  here.  The  angels  of  light 
rejoice  over  the  conversion  of  one  sinner :  and 
how  often,  since  that  sermon  was  preached,  have 
they  been  called  from  their  more  immediate  em- 
ployment in  the  celestial  kingdom  to  rejoice  over 
the  conversion  of  sinners  to  God  ! 

2.  I  remark,  that  the  work  assigned  to  the 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ  is  ihe  most  lionourahle^ 
and  yet  ihe  most  difficult,  that  can  he  entrusted  to 
human  agency. 

It  is  the  most  honourable,  inasmuch  as  it  is 
that  work  w^hich  the  Son  of  God  came  to  per- 
form. It  is  precisely  that  species  of  labour 
which  the  angels  of  light  and  the  disembodied 
spirits  of  the  just  would  prefer,  if  they  were 
allowed  to  come  into  human  form  :  and  it  is 
almost  the  only  species  of  labour  which  entails 
neither  shame,  nor  the  sense  of  meanness,  nor 
discredit,  during  the  period  it  is  engaged  in,  or 
when  it  is  actually  terminated. 

But  while  it  is  thus  honourable,  it  is,  at  the 
same  time,  equally  arduous.  It  is  no  easy 
thing,  my  friends,  as  you  know  from  personal 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon.  71 

experience,  for  a  minister  of  Christ,  to  induce 
the  thoughtless,  the  careless,  the  unconverted, 
to  give  a  prompt  and  a  serious  consideration  to 
this  great  question — "  What  must  I  do  to  be 
saved  ?"  It  is  not  an  easy  thing,  when  we  are 
preaching,  to  fix  your  attention,  to  control  your 
habit  of  thinking,  to  leave  those  impressions  on 
your  minds  which  shall  constrain  you  to  think 
when  you  go  away  from  a  place  of  worship,  that 
shall  superinduce  the  habit  of  solemn  considera- 
tion and  devout  inquiry.  And  even  when  this 
first  difficulty  is  got  over,  what  various  objec- 
tions will  men  advance,  not  in  favour  of  their 
own  salvation  (as  one  should  naturally  imagine, 
if  positively  ignorant  of  the  tendencies  of  human 
nature,)  but  against  it,  as  though  they  had  an 
interest  in  being  lost. 

And  when  objections  are  in  some  measure 
silenced,  when  a  spirit  of  thoughtful  inquiry 
comes  over  the  heart,  impressions  made,  the 
spirit  of  prayer  excited,  the  Bible  read,  the 
question  propounded  to  the  minister,  or  to  a 
private  Christian  friend,  "  What  must  I  do  to 
be  saved?" — entrance  obtained  into  the  Christian 
church,  and  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  supper 
received — oh !  what  difficulty  to  keep  the  young 
convert  from  associating  with  the  world,  to 


72 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


sustain  these  impressions,  to  guard  these  habits, 
to  invigorate  these  principles,  to  lead  him  on 
through  the  temptations  of  the  world  in  safety, 
till  at  length  he  is  fitted  for  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  ! 

Brethren,  what  an  extraordinary  combination 
of  talent  does  a  minister  require  who  keeps 
constantly  in  view  the  great  objects  of  his  minis- 
terial appointment !  I  do  not  now  refer  so  much 
to  intellectual  as  to  moral  talent.  What  a  large 
portion  of  the  spirit  of  Christ  ought  constantly 
to  rest  upon  him  !  And  what  was  the  spirit  of 
Christ  ?  A  profound  regard  for  the  honour  of 
God,  combined  with  the  tenderest  compassion 
for  the  salvation  of  man.  He  must  unite  the 
fidelity  of  an  ambassador  with  the  ingenuity  of 
an  advocate ;  and  thus  preserve,  unimpaired, 
the  legislative  dignity  of  his  sovereign,  while 
attempting  to  persuade  men  to  be  reconciled  to 
him.  He  has  to  win  souls  ;  and  the  sacred 
testimony  says  that  this  requires  great  practical 
wisdom  in  varying  the  modes  of  address  and 
appeal  to  excite  attention.  I  will  venture  to  say 
that  my  esteemed  friend  has  often  had  his  eye 
fixed  upon  one,  and  another,  and  another,  who 
has  grown  up  from  youth  to  manhood,  and  from 
manhood  to  old  age,  to  whom  he  has  often  pre- 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


73 


sented  tnith  in  such  a  specific  form  as  to  hope 
that  now  it  will  tell,  without  seeing  any  effects 
produced :  and  the  secret  prayer  has  been, 
"  Lord,  help  me  to  construct  a  sentence  that 
shall  touch  to-day  this  man's  heart."  Oh !  how 
difficult  is  the  work  of  the  ministry  ! 

3.  I  remark  that  the  successful  minister  of 
Jesus  Christ  must  always  entertain  a  -piercing 
apprehension  of  his  personal  responsibility,  asso- 
ciated with  the  absolute  renunciation  of  all  self- 
suficient  power. 

It  has  often  been  said  that  we  are  responsi- 
ble only  for  our  fidelity,  not  for  our  success.  I 
admit  the  truth  of  the  expression  to  a  certain 
extent ;  but  I  rather  apprehend  that  there  is,  too 
frequently,  lurking  under  it  a  dangerous  fallacy. 
We  are  responsible  for  our  success  :  if  not, 
there  would  be  no  lamentation  if  we  are  unsuc- 
cessful ;  no  self-reproach ;  no  instituting  this 
inquiry,  with  a  corresponding  feeling  of  anxiety, 
"  Why  do  I  conduct  a  series  of  services.  Sab- 
bath after  Sabbath,  month  after  month,  year 
after  year,  without  being  successful  ?"  The 
fact  is,  that  a  holy  man  of  God  will  feel  that  he 
is  responsible  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents  to 
the  veiry  full  extent  of  their  capability  ;  and 

hence,  inertness,  indolence,  consequent  defect 
7 


74 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


of  motive,  the  absence  of  that  all-absorbing 
anxiety  which  should  ever  stand  associated  with 
the  discharge  of  ministerial  duties,  will  lead 
him  to  a  deep  prostration  of  soul  before  God,  to 
revive  the  work  of  grace  in  his  heart,  to  induce 
a  greater  earnestness  and  zeal  in  his  cause, 
that  he  may  not  at  last  stand  in  the  divine  pre- 
sence alone,  or  with  only  few  standing  around 
him,  as  his  "  crown  of  rejoicing." 

In  close  connection  with  this  personal  re- 
sponsibility there  is  the  renunciation  of  all  self- 
sufficiency.  In  no  one  thing  does  the  faithful 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ  differ  from  the  hireling 
of  superstition  than  in  the  entire  renunciation  of 
all  self-sufficiency  to  execute  his  ministerial 
trust.  The  hireling  of  superstition — and  it 
matters  not  with  what  form  of  superstition  he 
stands  in  connexion — arrogates  to  himself  lof- 
ty pretensions,  moves  about  amongst  the  people, 
and  wishes  to  inspire  them  with  a  mysterious 
awe  of  his  person,  as  entrusted  with  extraordi- 
nary power,  to  give  efficiency  to  his  own  min- 
istrations. Hence,  in  the  arrogance  of  his 
spirit,  he  will  talk  of  effecting  the  great  change 
of  regeneration  at  the  baptismal  font — of  for- 
giving sins  by  virtue  of  the  authority  which  he 
himself  'possesses — and  of  giving  to  the  poor  dy- 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


75 


ing  sinner  the  sacrament,  as  a  safe  passport  to 
the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Heiice  they  will  at- 
tempt to  make  their  admirers  believe  that  the 
administration  of  the  sacraments,  when  it  is 
conducted  by  them,  is  sure  to  take  effect ;  as 
they  are  entrusted  with  a  delegated  authority, 
which  renders  the  concurrence  of  a  divine 
power  quite  unnecessary.  In  opposition  to 
claims  like  these,  the  faithful  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ,  however  splendid  his  talents,  and  power- 
ful his  eloquence,  will  adopt  the  language  of  the 
apostle,  "  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  1 
Our  sufficiency  is  of  God."  If  we  are  the 
means  of  converting  a  sinner,  reclaiming  a  back- 
slider, comforting  a  believer,  imparting  conso- 
lation to  the  wounded  heart,  it  is  all  of  God. 
I  will  now  proceed  to  call  your  attention, 

II.  To  THE  RECOMPENCE  WHICH  THE  MINIS- 
TER OF  Jesus  Christ  is  allowed  to  antici- 
pate, AND  will  ultimately  RECEIVE.  "  And 
they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness,  as  the 
stars  for  ever  and  ever." 

The  law  which  prohibited  the  muzzling  of 
the  ox  when  treading  out  the  corn  was  a  signifi- 
cant enactment,  expressive  of  that  personal  in- 
terest which  the  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  is  al- 


76 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


lowed  to  take  in  the  progress  and  result  of  his 
own  labours.  There  were,  this  morning,  some 
touching  allusions  to  the  overwhelming  anxieties 
which  have  preceded,  which  have  attended, 
and  have  accompanied,  the  ministrations  of  this 
pulpit  for  the  last  fifty  years  ;  and  if  those 
anxieties  could  at  any  period  have  been  ren- 
dered palpably  visible  to  you  or  your  fathers, 
they  would  have  excited  sympathies  such  as 
you  have  never  felt,  and  led  you  to  pour  forth 
such  prayers  as  you  have  never  uttered.  But  it 
is  a  wisely-constituted  law  of  the  divine  gov- 
ernment, that  in  proportion  to  the  labour  shall 
be  the  recompence — to  the  intensity  of  anxiety 
accompanying  its  production,  the  bliss  of  the 
feeling  when  the  design  is  answered.  Here 
the  anxiety  has  been  felt :  in  that  vestry  the 
recompence  has  been  received.  I  sketch,  I 
have  no  doubt  from  real  life.  In  that  vestry, 
your  pastor  has  sometimes  sat  himself  down, 
pensive,  oppressed,  absorbed  in  thought.  He 
has  been  disturbed  by  the  entrance  of  a  stran- 
ger— a  young  man — "  Sir,  I  have  been  brought 
by  your  ministry  to  see  what  a  sinner  I  am : 
will  you  tell  me  how  I  can  be  saved  ?" — There 
is  the  recompence. 

And  there  is  a  certain  recompence  after  the 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


77 


work  is  done :  though  this  is  never  anticipated 
as  deserved.  I  am  confident  that  I  speak  the 
feelings  of  your  pastor's  heart,  in  giving  utter- 
ance to  my  own,  when  1  say  that  we  sometimes, 
in  common  with  you,  anticipate  our  final  sal- 
vation, but  scarcely  ever,  if  ever,  go  beyond  it : 
and  if,  under  extraordinary  excitement,  the  min- 
ister of  Christ  really  anticipates  something  of 
that  distinction  which  will  be  created  on  behalf 
of  those  who  "  turn  many  to  righteousness,"  he 
will  bow  down  and  say,  "  Not  unto  me,  O  Lord, 
not  unto  me,  but  unto  thy  name  be  all  the  glory." 

But  whether  anticipated  or  not,  it  will  be  re- 
alized.  It  cannot  be  otherwise.  Time  and 
localities  have  an  extraordinary  influence  even 
now  over  the  state  of  human  feeling.  Only  let 
strangers  be  associated  unexpectedly  in  distant 
localities  from  their  own  residence,  and  a  fine 
glow  of  feeling  will  spring  up  of  a  peculiar  and 
hallowed  nature.  And  think  you  it  is  possible 
for  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  to  enter  heaven, 
and  there  distinctly  recognise  those  to  whom  he 
ministered  the  word  of  life  on  earth,  without 
feeling  what  no  language  was  ever  invented  to 
describe  ?  I  do  not  know,  I  confess,  the  full 
import  of  the  meaning  of  my  text.    There  are 

many  allusions  to  heaven — its  order,  its  glory, 
7# 


78 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


and  to  tlie  sources  of  its  felicity ;  but  there  is 
nothing  sufficiently  defined  to  allow  us  to  form 
a  clear  conception  of  what  we  shall  be,  or  of 
the  elevation  and  dignity  to  which  we  shall  be 
raised.  "  Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard, 
neither  have  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to 
conceive,  the  things  which  God  hath  prepared 
for  them  that  love  him." 

It  will  be  a  recompence  in  proportion  to  the 
extent  of  the  labour,  its  sacrifices,  its  difficulties 
— the  purity  of  the  motive,  and  the  vigour  of 
the  principle,  which  have  been  employed  in  its 
execution.  "  And  they  that  turn  many  to  right- 
eousness." 

I  recollect,  some  years  ago,  taking  a  solitary 
walk,  and  in  the  distance  I  saw  a  man  who  sud- 
denly disappeared.  Curiosity,  rather  than  an 
apprehension  of  danger,  impelled  me  to  quicken 
my  steps  ;  when  I  saw  that  he  was  in  a  state  of 
intoxication,  rolling  down  a  steep  bank,  the 
bottom  of  which  was  within  seven  feet  of  a 
canal !  I  hurried  down,  and  was  in  time  to  put 
ray  foot  on  the  curbstone  of  the  canal,  and  save 
him  from  destruction.  I  never  returned  from  a 
walk  with  more  complacent  satisfaction  than  on 
that  evening.  But  it  was  the  only  instance  of 
the  kind  that  ever  occurred.    If  such  an  occur- 


REV.  T.  EAST  S  SERMON. 


79 


rence  had  frequently  happened,  the  amount  of 
my  felicity  would  have  been  in  proportion  to  the 
extent  of  my  usefulness.  So  here — "  many  to 
righteousness."  Oh!  to  think  of  sustaining  one 
situation  for  half  a  century,  for  no  other  avow- 
ed and  real,  practical  purpose  than  to  save  men 
from  everlasting  destruction,  and  to  prepare 
them  for  eternal  felicity !    This  is  the  noblest 

vork  in  which  a  man  ever  could  be  enCTaaed  ; 

ud  the  gratification  resulting  from  it,  when  the 
whole  mystery  of  God  is  accomplished,  must  be 
in  proportion  to  its  success. 

This  will  be  shared  in  common  with  others 
engaged  in  the  same  delightful  labour.  Unhap- 
pily, the  artificial  distinctions  either  of  civil  or 
ecclesiastical  wisdom  or  folly,  purity  or  crime, 
divide  Christian  from  Christian,  and  minister 
from  minister.  The  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ, 
redeemed  by  the  same  blood,  sanctified  by  the 
same  Spirit,  and  tending  towards  the  same  in- 
heritance, live  as  foreigners  and  strangersj 
rather  than  as  fellow-citizens  ;  often  opposed  to 
each  other,  though  bowing  at  the  same  throne 
of  grace,  and  avowing  attachment  to  the  same 
Saviour.  So  with  ministers  :  one  says,  "  I 
am  a  Paedobaptist,"  another,  "  I  am  a  Bap- 
tist :'■  one,     I  am  a  Calvinist,"  another,  "  I 


80  REV.  T.  EAST'S  SERMON. 

am  a  Methodist;"  one  a  Dissenter,  another  a 
Churchman ;  one  a  Presb}'terian,  another  an 
Episcopalian.  And  we  delight  in  these  desig- 
nations of  human  origin,  pressing  them  around 
us  with  all  their  repulsive  spirit,  rather  than 
rising  superior  to  their  influence,  and  acting 
with  dignity,  as  the  disciples  and  ministers  of 
Christ,  and  cherishing  that  reciprocal  aflfection 
which  he  has  made  the  test  of  character. 

How  long  this  state  of  things  is  to  continue 
is  known  only  to  that  great  and  good  Being  who 
knows  the  end  from  the  beginning.  But  this  I 
believe — that  if  there  be  one  sin  which  may  be 
designated  a  national  crime,  it  is  not  swearing, 
it  is  not  drunkenness,  it  is  not  sabbath-break- 
ing, it  is  not  licentiousness,  it  is  not  infidelity, 
in  any  of  its  forms :  it  is  disunion  among  the 
disciples  of  Christ,  especially  among  the  minis- 
ters. This  is  the  curse  of  curses  :  this  is  the 
cause  that  Infidelity  lifts  up  her  head  with  such 
a  front  as  she  bears  ;  asking  the  question,  satiri- 
cally, scornfully,  indignantly,  "  Can  you  be  the 
disciples  of  Christ  who  are  so  opposed  to  each 
other 

But  there  is  a  world  where  these  unhallowed 
distinctions,  with  their  accompanying  spirit,  will 
all  vanish  away,  and  each  one  in  his  own  order  ; 


REV,  T.  east's  sermon. 


81 


no  Episcopalian  there,  no  Presbyterian  there, 
no  Baptist  there,  no  Pagdobaptist  there  :  no, 
none  but  the  disciples  of  Christ  :  and  none  will 
"  shine  as  stars  for  ever"  but  his  faithful  ser- 
vants ;  without  these  human  distinctions  so 
dishonouring  and  so  destructive  of  harmony  and 
of  peace. 

Without  trespassing  much  longer  on  your  at- 
tention, permit  me  to  say,  that  if  there  be  one 
minister  on  earth  whom  I  revere  and  esteem  for 
his  uniform  consistency,  and  the  extent  of  his 
very  successful  labours,  that  minister  is  your 
honoured  pastor.  And  rather  than  not  have 
been  present  to  have  witnessed  what  1  hope  to 
see  on  Tuesday,  if  there  had  been  no  vehicle 
to  have  brought  me,  I  would  have  walked  every 
step  of  the  way. 

As  for  you,  my  Christian  brethren,  of  this 
congregation,  allow  me  to  congratulate  you  on 
the  high  character  you  have  sustained  as  a  con- 
gregation for  so  many  years.  As  the  apostle 
had  commended  the  church  at  Macedonia,  I 
feel  myself  at  liberty  to  make  some  reference  to 
you.  There  was  a  time  when  I  knew  you  in- 
timately— at  least  I  knew  your  fathers — and  I 
must  say,  that,  having  been  your  neighbour  for 
twelve  years  before  I  went  to  Birmingham,  I 


82 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


can  bear  testimony — which  no  one,  I  think, 
who  ever  knew  you,  would  ever  contradict — 
that  you  have,  for  a  series  of  years,  sustained 
a  reputation  as  a  Christian  church  and  congre- 
gation of  which  you  have  no  reason  to  be 
ashamed. 

I  recollect  once  spending  a  portion  of  the  day 
with  a  gentleman,  standing  very  high  in  the  re- 
ligious world,  who  was  tinged  rather  deeply 
with  the  Antinomian  heresy — and  who,  at  that 
period,  though  accustomed  to  my  ministry  for  a 
few  weeks  in  the  year,  could  hardly  tolerate 
it,  not  being  exactly  of  that  description  which 
suited  his  taste — very  gravely  asked  me  this 
question,  "  You  know  Mr.  Jay's  congregation, 
don't  you,  sir,  as  you  are  a  neighbour  ?"  I  said, 
"Yes."  ''Is  there  any  piety  among  them?" 
"  Piety  among  them  !  My  opinion  of  Mr.  Jay's 
congregation  is  this — taking  it  altogether,  it  is 
the  finest  in  the  West  of  England,  both  in  rela- 
tion to  the  consistency  of  its  religious  charac- 
ter, its  harmony,  its  unity,  its  devotion  to  its 
minister  and  its  pastor,  and  the  prevalence  of 
personal  piety  among  its  members."  This  was, 
then,  my  opinion  ;  and  I  believe  nothing  has 
since  occurred  to  change  it.  You  have  a  good 
character — sustain  it — thank  God  for  it ! 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


83 


The  degree  of  influence  which  is  recipro- 
cally exercised  by  a  minister  and  people,  in  the 
formation  of  their  respective  characters,  is  one 
of  those  questions  which  it  is  not  easy  to  solve 
to  the  satisfaction  of  a  cautious,  and  especially 
a  fastidious  mind.  Sometimes  the  congregation, 
forms  the  character  of  the  pastor  in  his  early 
settlement;  and  then  the  pastor  throws  back 
his  character  on  the  state  of  his  congregation. 
Here  I  would  call  upon  you  to  be  thankful  that 
you  have,  for  a  long  series  of  years,  had  pre- 
siding over  you,  and  have  the  prospect  of  his 
continued  presidency,  one  whose  example, 
whose  spirit,  whose  entire  character,  you  can 
think  of  without  a  blush,  and  in  reference  to 
whom  you  were  never  put  to  the  necessity  of 
olfering  either  an  apology  or  an  explanation. 
And  in  proportion  to  your  advantage  is  your  re- 
sponsibility. There  is  a  season  coming  on 
which  your  eye  is  to  gaze,  for  which  his  labours 
have  been  preparing  you  ;  but  the  result  of  his 
labours  is  yet  unknown.  I  do  not  refer  to  what 
is  to  take  place  on  Tuesday :  that  will  be  a 
novel  sight — a  gratifying  sight.  Who  would 
give  a  premium  to  be  absent  1  Why,  no  one 
who  has  an  attachment  to  his  minister  and  pas- 
tor ;  no  one  who  wants  to  see  a  sight  which  is 


84 


REV.  T.  east's  sermon. 


rarely  seen,  that  may  never  be  seen  again ;  no 
one  who  wants  any  thing  like  peculiarity  to 
mark  a  period  in  the  progress  of  time.  Tues- 
day will  soon  be  here  ;  the  events  of  that  day 
will  soon  come  and  go ;  the  sight  will  be  soon 
exhibited,  and  remain  only 'in  the  recollection, 
exercising  a  little  influence  on  human  conduct, 
perhaps  on  human  principle  :  but  soon  it  will 
be  past.  There  is  another  sight  coming  far 
more  glorious  than  the  one  to  which  I  have  just 
referred  ;  when  your  revered  minister  will  be 
presented  faultless,  in  the  immediate  presence 
of  God  our  Saviour,  and  receive  his  crown  of 
righteousness.  But,  alas  !  how  many,  eager  to 
see  the  gratifying  sight  which  Tuesday  is  ex- 
pected to  exhibit,  feel  no  intense  anxiety  to  be- 
hold his  celestial  coronation. 

Allow  me  to  address  myself  to  you,  children 
of  the  departed,  whose  fathers,  whose  mothers, 
the  friends  of  your  youthful  days,  are  now  glo- 
rified spirits  in  the  celestial  world.  Have  you 
joined  yourselves  to  Christ  ?  or  are  you  living 
without  prayer,  without  repentance,  without 
faith,  fitting  yourselves  for  destruction  ?  Oh, 
my  dear  friends,  though  I  know  you  not  person- 
ally, let  me  beseech  you  not  to  let  this  day  pass 
till  you  have,  by  solemn  prayer  to  God  through 


REV.  T.   EAST  S  SERMON. 


83 


Jesus  Christ,  looked  up  for  the  salvation  of 
your  souls. 

How  soon  this  solemn  scene  will  come — who 
can  tell  1  "Who  would  like  to  see  the  greatest 
ranger  in  this  congregation  led  out  now,  by 
oome  ruffian  band,  bearing  an  official  character, 
connected  with  stem  justice,  and,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  whole,  compelled  to  follow,  to  wit- 
ess  him  executed,  without  even  time  to  ask 
..ny? 

But  what  is  such  an  occurrence  as  this  in 
omparison  with  the  awful  solemnity  of  a  spirit 
■'ins,  damned,  and  lost  in  a  moment  and  for 
.  er  ?  As  now  is  the  accepted  time,  let  me  be- 
ech you  to  flee  for  refuge  to  Jesus  Christ, 
>  ho  alone  can  save  you  from  the  wrath  to  come; 
who  alons  can  make  you  meet  to  be  partakers 
of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light.  Hav- 
ing done  this,  what  a  splendid  scene  will  be 
visible,  when,  rising  to  the  eternal  world  as  the 
brightness  of  the  firmament,  you  will  behold  the 
ministers  of  Christ  in  their  order,  as  stars  shin- 
ing for  ever  and  for  ever  ;  amidst  the  whole,  the 
"^un  of  Righteousness  in  his  glory,  his  dignity, 
nd  his  greatness  ! 
-May  God  command  his  blessing.  Amen. 
8 


SOCIAL  CELEBRATION 

OF  THE 

JUBILEE  OF  THE  REY.  W.  JAY'S 
PASTORATE. 


On  Tuesday  morning,  the  2d  of  February,  1841, 
a  breakfast  took  place  at  the  Assembly  Rooms, 
Bath,  in  accordance  with  a  proposal  made  by 
Mrs.  H.  Stothert,  Mrs.  C.  Godwin,  Mrs. 
Spender,  and  Mrs.  R.  Hopkins,  members  of 
the  church  at  x\rgyle  chapel,  and  approved  by 
the  Rev.  William  Jay  and  the  Committee ;  the 
arrangements  of  which  were  conducted  with 
great  taste,  order,  and  satisfaction. 

At  ten  o'clock,  the  Rev.  J.  Lewis  implored 
the  divine  blessing  in  the  large  room,  and  the 
Rev.  W.  Skinner  in  the  octagon  room;  and 
when  breakfast  was  finished,  the  tables  in  the 
large  room  were  removed,  and  the  friends  from 
the  octagon  room  admitted,  so  that  during  the 
Meeting  the  Presentation  all  were  together. 


REV.  W.   jay's  jubilee. 


87 


The  number  of  persons  at  the  breakfast  was 
eight  hundred  and  twenty ;  the  expense  being 
defrayed  by  the  sale  of  tickets. 

Free  tickets  were  given  to  ministers  who 
attended  on  the  occasion,  and  also  to  the  poor 
members  and  Sunday-school  teachers  belonging 
to  Argyle  chapel. 

The  ministers  present  were  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Bedford,  of  Winchester  ;  East,  of  Birmingham; 
Elliott,  of  Devizes ;  Haynes,  Lucy,  Thomas, 
and  Davie,  of  Bristol ;  Gregory,  of  Clifton ; 
Nichols,  of  Darwen,  Lancashire  ;  Glanville,  of 
Kingswood,  Gloucestershire;  Lewis,  of  Wot- 
ton-under-edge  ;  Jupp,  of  Melksham  ;  Hine,  of 
Plymouth;  Fernie,  of  Frome;  Skinner,  of  Bru- 
ton ;  Hopkins,  of  Weston-super-Mare  ;  Harris, 
of  Westbury,  Wilts ;  Oxley,  of  Sherborne ; 
Penman,  of  Yeovil;  Bishop,  of  Bridgewater; 
Edwards,  of  Frampton-upon-Severn  ;  Smith,  of 
Marlborough;  Martin,  of  Cheltenham;  Mann, 
of  Trowbridge  ;  Rees,  of  Chippenham  ;  Slade, 
of  Corsham,  Wilts ;  Russ,  of  Seaton,  Devon- 
shire ;  Jackson,  of  Taunton ;  W.  Bunting,  of 
Manchester;  Owen,  Richards,  Wassail,  Cater > 
Jackson,  Thornton,  Brown,  Reichell,  Griffith, 
and  Seaville,  of  Bath. 

At  half-past  six  in  the  evening,  the  closing 


88 


REV.  W.  jay's  jubilee. 


celebration  of  the  Jubilee  took  place  in  Argyle 
chapel,  the  principal  scene  of  the  protracted 
and  successful  labours  of  the  venerable  pastor. 
The  large  building  was  densely  thronged  long 
before  the  commencement  of  the  meeting. 

On  one  side  of  the  pulpit  was  placed  a  pillar, 
commemorative  of  the  late  Rev.  Thomas  Tup- 
pen,  and  of  the  erection  of  the  chapel ;  and  on 
the  other  side  a  corresponding  pillar,  commemo- 
rative of  the  fifty  years'  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
William  Jay.  The  pillars  are  of  Scotch  gra- 
nite, beautifully  polished;  and  were  executed 
according  to  the  chaste  design  of  Mr.  H.  E. 
Goodridge,  architect ;  each  is  surmounted  by  a 
bronze  lamp. 


MORMXG  METING  AT  THE  ASSE3IBLY-R003IS, 

AXD 

PRESENTATION  OF  TESTIMONIAL. 


Hexry  Godwin,  Esq..  in  the  Chair. 

The  Rev.  John  Owen  read  the  133d  Psalm; 
and  the  ReT.  W.  L.  Thornton  besought  the 
divine  blessing  on  the  proceedings  of  the  day. 

One  of  the  hymns,  composed  expressly  for 
the  occasion,  by  James  Montgomery.  Esq.,  of 
Sheffield,  was  then  sung :  it  wiU  be  found  at 
the  end  of  this  volume. 

The  Chairman  then  addressed  the  Meet- 
ing : — Ladies  and  Gentlemen, — I  oueht,  in  the 
conmienceraent  of  the  present  festival :  for  so 
we  consider  it ;  to  inform  you  that  we  have  re- 
ceived letters  from  several  eminent  and  distin- 
guished ministers,  which  would  be  read  if  it 
were  not  feared  that  they  would  trespass  too 


90 


MORNING  MEETING 


much  upon  the  time  which  can  be  more  profita- 
bly employed.  I  will,  therefore,  merely  say, 
in  few  words,  that  their  contents  are  nearly 
uniform,  expressing  regret  at  the  writers'  being 
unable  to  be  present  to  celebrate  with  us  this 
very  interesting  occasion,  and  their  unaltered 
and  unalterable  attachment  to  our  esteemed 
pastor.  They  express  their  warmest  desire 
that  the  meeting  may  be  conducted,  from  be- 
ginning to  end,  in  a  spirit  which  I  am  sure  will 
characterize  it. 

As  there  is  this  uniformity  in  the  letters,  I 
will  not  occupy  the  time  by  reading  them  :  but 
there  is  one  from  the  individual  who,  if  indis- 
position had  not  prevented  him,  would  have 
filled  the  situation  which  I  now  hold.  I  need 
not  say  that  I  allude  to  Mr.  Henry  Griffith,  the 
senior  deacon  of  Argyle  chapel,  and  the  only 
survivor  of  those  who  signed  the  requisition  to 
Mr.  Jay  to  become  its  minister.  That  letter 
must  be  his  apology  for  not  being  present ;  and 
it  must  be  my  apology  for  taking  this  situation. 

I  believe,  if  I  understand  at  all  the  duties 
and  the  province  of  the  chairman  of  a  meeting 
such  as  this,  he  is  expected  to  give  something 
like  a  character  and  a  tone  to  the  assembly 
over  which  he  presides.    Now  I  conceive  that 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOM. 


91 


the  characteristics  of  a  meeting  such  as  this 
should  bear  the  impress  of  sacred  pleasure  and 
brotherly  love.  It  is  delightful  to  retreat  from 
a  world  of  turmoil  and  care,  distracted  with  the 
conflict  of  politics,  into  a  hallowed  circle  such 
as  wc  are  now  enjoying.  It  is  something  for 
me,  too,  who  have  mingled,  perhaps  too  much, 
in  the  earthly  politics  of  the  day,  to  breathe 
here  something  of  the  atmosphere  of  heaven, 
and  to  unite  in  the  delightful  enjoyments  which 
we  have  anticipated  and  are  now  realizing. 

I  was  considering,  on  Saturday,  on  what  peg 
I  should  hang  the  observations  I  should  ad- 
dress to  you  :  and  I  intended  to  say  something  of 
the  endeared  connexion  which  subsists  between 
a  minister  and  his  people,  and  especially  one 
which  has  subsisted,  for  half  a  century,  be- 
tween our  honoured  pastor  and  his  congrega- 
tion. But  my  reverend  friend  completely  cut 
the  ground  from  under  me  in  his  admirable  dis- 
course last  sabbath  morning.  It  was  then  the 
principal  subject  with  him,  and  he  invested  it 
with  all  the  solemnities  of  eternity,  and  with 
all  the  responsibilities  of  the  judgment  bar. 
I  shall  therefore  abstain  from  touching  on  that 
point.  I  intended  also  to  refer  to  the  circum- 
stances and  condition  of  the  country  during  the 


9^ 


MORNING  MEETING 


fifty  years  which  he  has  passed  amongst  us. 
But  here  again  I  have  been  anticipated :  and 
I  shall  therefore  only  say,  in  general  terms, 
that  I  entirely  agree  with  Mr.  Jay,  that  they 
have  been  the  most  important  years  which  have 
distinguished  the  Christian  era,  one  similar 
period  only  excepted — the  first  fifty  years, 
when  the  great  "  mystery  of  godliness"  appear- 
ed, God  manifest  in  the  flesh,  when  angels 
witnessed  "  the  suffering  of  Christ,  and  the 
glory  that  should  follow."  With  that  excep- 
tion, no  fifty  years  have  occurred  in  the  world's 
history  which  may  be  compared  in  their  im- 
portant, their  religious  results ;  and  they  ap- 
peared to  me  to  form  an  important  link  in  that 
chain  which  shall  unite  them  with  the  period 
when,  "  to  those  who  look  for  him,  the  Saviour 
shall  appear  the  second  time  without  sin  unto 
salvation." 

If  brevity  be  the  soul  of  wit,  I  assure  you, 
you  shall  have  a  witty  chairman  to-day;  and  I 
will  proceed,  without  any  lengthened  address, 
to  refer  at  once  to  one  or  two  things  which 
have  struck  me. 

In  the  testimonial  which  lies  before  me  I 
perceive  a  sweet  intermingling  of  sentiment,  of 
regard,  and  of  love.    In  it  the  peer  of  the  realm 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOM. 


93 


and  the  honest  mechanic,  the  dignitary  of  the 
church  and  the  humble  teacher  of  the  Sunday 
school,  the  widow's  mite  and  the  offering  of  the 
affluent,  are  blended  :  and  surely  we  shall  catch 
the  flame  which  has  here  been  manifested,  and 
not  say  or  do  anything  which  is  inimical  to 
this  catholic  spirit.  We  have  left  all  our  dif- 
ferences outside  the  door,  and  I  trust  we  are  not 
going  to  bring  them  in.  We  meet  here  without 
the  compromise  of  a  single  principle  ;  but  I 
hope  we  shall  meet  without  inflicting  a  wound 
upon  any  man's  conscience.  I  trust  that  this 
meeting  will  resemble  some  we  have  witness- 
ed, where  the  platform  has  been  raised  too  high 
to  be  assailed  by  sectarian  differences,  and  that 
we  shall  be  imbued  with  something  of  the 
spirit  of  that  world  above,  where  party  names 
and  distinctions  are  unknown. 

There  is  one  witness  whom  I  could  almost 
wish  were  here  this  morning  to  bear  his  testi- 
mony to  the  worth  of  our  beloved  pastor.  Be- 
lieve me,  sir,  I  am  not  going  to  indulge  in  the 
language  of  adulation  :  it  would  be  as  repugnant 
to  me  as  it  would  be  offensive  to  you ;  and  as 
contrary  to  the  canons  of  good  taste  as  to  the 
canons  of  scripture.  I  wish  the  sainted  Wil- 
berforce  were  here  to  testify  his  esteem  for 


94 


MORNING  MEETING 


you  :  and  we  know  not  but  that  he  may  be  look- 
ing down  with  pleasure  upon  us  now  ;  for  if  an- 
gels rejoice  over  a  repentant  sinner,  why  should 
not  glorified  saints  look  with  ecstasy  upon  such 
a  scene  as  this  ?  But  I  can  give  you  the  testi- 
mony of  Wilberforce  himself;  and  I  give  it  you 
on  the  veracity  of  a  man  who  feels,  I  trust,  that 
he  stands  in  the  sight  of  God. 

Though  not  intimately  acquainted  with  that 
good  man,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  having  three  in- 
terviews with  him,  in  one  of  which  Mr.  Jay  was 
the  subject  of  conversation  ;  speaking  of  whom 
he  said,  "  There  is  one  thing  in  Jay,  (for  he 
spoke  familiarly,  and  I  will  speak  familiarly 
too,)  there  is  one  thing  in  Jay,  dear  Jay,  that  I 
love  :  it  is,  his  uniform  consistency,  his  uniform 
humility.  I  remember  him  when  he  was  a  very 
young  man ;  and  I  know  that  the  popular  ap- 
plause which  followed  him  was  enough  to  turn 
a  young  head.  But  he  always  kept  his  steady 
course  :  I  never  saw  him  in  the  least  inflated 
by  it :  I  never  saw  the  least  indication  of  his 
being  so  :  he  seemed  to  shake  it  off  as  the  lion 
shakes  the  dew  from  his  mane.  Dear  Jay  !  I 
love  Jay  !"  Such  was  the  testimony  of  Wil- 
berforce :  but  his  sons  appear  to  have  forgotten 
that  love  ;  at  all  events,  they  have  not  shewn  it 
in  the  biography  of  their  father. 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  95 

I  am  old  enough,  my  friends,  to  have  wit- 
nessed a  great  deal  of  the  popularity  of  Mr. 
Jay :  and,  of  all  the  trials  and  temptations  he 
has  had,  perhaps  that  has  been  the  greatest.  I 
have  seen  him  a  young  man,  launched,  like  a 
vessel  laden  with  divine  truth,  upon  the  troub- 
lous, treacherous  ocean  of  popularity :  he  has 
kept  his  steady  course  ;  the  flag  aloft  has  been 
the  union  of  faith,  hope,  and  charity ;  Christ 
has  been  at  the  helm,  and  the  glory  of  God  has 
been  his  polar  star;  the  Bible  has  been  his 
compass ;  the  sweet  breath  of  heaven,  humble 
prayer,  has  filled  the  well-spread  sails,  and 
carried  him  onward.    But  he  has  had  the  gales 
of  trouble,  and  the  billows  of  sorrow,  which 
have  risen  against  him :  and  many  a  frail  bark 
which  attended  him  has  been  shivered  upon  the 
rocks,  or  wrecked  upon  the  shoals.    By  the 
grace  of  God  he  has  kept  his  steady  course; 
he  has  gone  onward  and  onward  towards  the 
fair  haven  of  eternal  rest :  and  here  he  is,  still 
going  onward.    Soon — alas!  too  soon,  perhaps, 
for  us — he  will  reach  the  blissful  shores  of 
eternity,  thence  beckoning  us  along,  and  shout- 
ing, "  Victory,  victory,  through  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb!" 

There  is  another  individual  who  is  not  pre- 


96 


mornIng  meeting 


sent :  how  I  wish  she  had  been  here  !  I  refer 
to  her  who  first  gave  him  the  title  of  a  parent — 
the  beloved  one  who  first  said  to  this  amiable, 
venerable  couple,  "  Father !"  "  Mother!"  Oh! 
I  wish  Mrs.  Bolton  had  been  here.  Some  of 
us  love  that  woman  :  we  love  her  husband  well: 
and,  though  she  is  absent.  I  trust  our  prayer  is 
that  she  may  be  blessed. 

And  now,  my  beloved  pastor,  I  turn  to  you. 
It  is  my  duty  to  read  to  you  the  address  of  your 
church  and  congregation,  which  so  much  accords 
with  my  own  sentiments  that  I  cannot  do  bet- 
ter than  let  it  conclude  mine  on  the  present 
occasion. 

To  the  Reverend  William  Jay. 

Reverend  and  very  dbar  Sir, 

Fifty  years  have  rolled  away  since  a  gracious  God  was  pleased 
to  direct  the  church  and  congregation  assembling  in  Arg>ie  chapel 
to  choose  you  as  their  pastor.  :  Solemn  is  the  thought,  that  of 
those  who  then  crowded  to  hear  you  profess  "  a  good  profession 
before  many  witnesses,"  few— very  few  remain  to  welcome  this 
day ;  and  of  those  who  then  invited  you  to  accept  the  ministerial 
charge,  one — only  one  honoured  individual  survives.  But  God 
has  preserved  you !  and  we  are'  how  assembled  to  commemorate 
the  lapse  of  half  a  century  spent  in  holy  duty,  and  affectionate 
intercourse  between  yourself  and  the  people  of  your  charge. 

We  come  not  to  praise'  you.  It  would  not  be  acceptable  to  you, 
and  we  regard  the  occasion  as  too  hallowed  for  .any  such  pur- 
pose. Wo  desire  to  unite  with  you  in  fervent  gratitude  to  the 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOJIS. 


97 


Great  Head  of  the  church  for  the  signal  blessings  He  has  bestowed 
on  you,  in  fitting  you  for  the  high,  and  sacred,  and  distinguished 
course  of  ministerial  usefulness  He  has  enabled  you  to  fulfil; 
and  on  us,  as  a  church  and  a  congregation,  in  providing  for  us  so 
rich  and  edifying  an  exhibition  of  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God, 

But,  wliile  we  bow  in  gratitude  before  the  Most  High,  and 
would  devoutly  adore  Him  for  his  goodness,  we  cannot  be  insen- 
sible, that,  under  Him  "  from  whom  cometh  every  good  and  per- 
fect gift,"  we  owe  you  much.   To  the  great  Apostle  of  the 
Gentiles,  Philemon  owed  his  "own  self."   To  you  some  of  us 
re  Tinder  similar  obligations;  and  it  is  our  prayer,  that  with 
se  of  our  predecessors  and  fellow-worshippers,  who  have 
parted  in  the  faith,  we  mayunitedly  rejoice  in  the  day  of  Christ, 
that  you  have  neither  run  nor  laboiired  in  vain. 
Receive  from  us,  very  dear  sir,  the  assurance  of  our  strong 
'  ction  and  unabated  regard ;  and  with  it,  as  a  token  of  our 
achment  to  your  person— of  our  veneration  for  your  charac- 
and  of  our  gratitude  for  your  labours  as  a  faitliful  minister  of 
list,  we  request  your  acceptance  of  the  accompanying  tribute 
of  esteem. 

Finally,  we  pray  for  your  prosperity,  and  commend  you  to  the 
love  of  the  Savioxir.  May  the  evening  of  life,  which  is  now  come 
upon  you,  and  upon  one  who  has  tenderly  and  long  augmented 
your  joys,  and  alleviated  your  anxieties,  ever  be  irradiated  by  the 
Divine  presence  :  and  when  it  shall  please  Him,  whom  you  serve, 
to  call  you  to  the  temple  above,  may  these  glorious  words  break 
upon  your  ear—"  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant ;  enter 
thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord  1" 

Signed  on  behalf  of  the  Church  and  Congregation,  Bath,  30th 
Januar}-,  1841. 


Wm.  Newall, 
James  Bryant, 
K.  H.  CRirriTH, 


Henry  Griffith, 


Isaac  Titley, 
Jacob  Titlky, 
Samuel  Fisher, 


Deacons  of  the  Church. 


9 


98 


MORNING  MEETING 


H.  Godwin,  Chairman  of  the  Committee. 
Rice  Hopkins,  Secretury  of  the  Committee. 


William  George, 
John  Barnard, 
Edward  Saunders, 
Charles  Godwin, 
George  Northmork, 
Thomas  Barter, 
Ja.mes  Griffiths, 
William  Gibbons, 
Henry  Edm.  Goodeidoi, 


John  Matthews, 
George  King, 
Richard  Parker  Lemon, 
William  Price, 
Richard  Finigan, 
William  James, 
John  Griffiths  Manpford, 
J.  C.  Spendzr, 
S.  King, 

Henry  Morgan, 
Being  the  Committee  appointed  at  a  General  Meeting  of  the  Church 
and  Congregation,  held  13th  October,  1840. 

With  this  address,  sir,  which  so  fully  ex- 
presses my  own  sentiments,  1  have  to  present 
you  also  with  this  salver  and  purse,  which 
contains  £650,  as  a  token  of  our  united  esteem, 
affection,  and  gratitude. 

The  address,  written  on  fine  vellum,  was  a 
chaste  specimen  of  penmanship,  the  produc- 
tion of  Mr.  James  Griffiths.  It  was  surround- 
ed by  a  richly-ornamented  border,  executed  by 
Mr.  H.  E.  Goodridge. 

The  case  containing  the  roller  on  which  the 
address  was  placed  was  the  contribution  and 
work  of  Miss  Eliza  King.  The  material  was 
rich  purple  brocaded  satin,  trimmed  with  bands 
of  purple  velvet  and  silver  lace. 

The  salver  (manufactured  by  Mr.  Moore) 
was  of  solid  silver,  with  a  shell-pattern  border, 
containing  in  the  centre  the  following  inscrip- 
tion, surrounded  with  an  engraved  wreath  of 
flowers  : 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS. 


99 


PRESENTED, 
TOGETHER  V.'ITH  THE  SUM  OF  SIX  HUNDRED 

AND  FIFTY  POUNDS, 
TO  THE 

Kn).  lUilliam  Jag, 

BY  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  CHURCH  AND 

CONGREGATION 
ASSEMBLED  IN  ARGYLE  CHAPEL,  BATH, 
AND  BY  OTHER  FRIENDS, 
ON  THE  COMPLETION  OF  THE  FIFTIETH  YEAR 
OF  HIS  HAPPY  AND  USEFUL  PASTORATE, 
AS  A  TRIBUTE  OF 
CHRISTIAN  ESTEEM,  AFFECTION,  AND  GRATITUDE. 
JANUARY  XXX.  MDCCCXLI. 

The  beautiful  purple  velvet  bag,  nobly  orna- 
mented with  silver  cord  and  tassels,  which  en- 
closed the  salver  and  the  purse,  of  correspond- 
ing beauty  and  pattern,  were  the  production 
and  gifts  of  Miss  Titley- 

The  venerated  minister,  for  whose  accept- 
ance these  various  presents  were  intended  as 
tokens  of  regard  and  attachment,  then  rose, 
amidst  the  enthusiastic  congratulations  of  the 
company ;  and,  though  evidently  labouring  un- 
der emotions  which  he  could  scarcely  control, 
delivered  the  following  address  : 


100 


MORNING  MEETING 


The  Rev.  William  Jay  : — Mr.  Chairman, 
and  my  Christian  friends  :  Of  late  years  you 
have  not  often  heard  me  speak  publicly,  unless 
in  my  own  appropriate  sphere.  It  was  not 
without  reflection  and  conviction  that,  believing 
every  man  is  best  in  his  own  order,  considering 
the  limitation  of  human  powers,  and  knowing 
how  liable  I  was  to  importunities,  and  feeling 
the  pressure  of  various  important  engagements, 
I  was  induced  to  lay  down  a  rule — and  which 
I  rendered  general,  in  order  to  avoid  giving  par- 
ticular off'ence — that  I  would  decline  all  plat- 
form engagements,  and  confine  myself  more  ex- 
clusively to  the  press  and  the  pulpit. 

With  regard  to  the  former,  I  hope  I  have  not 
erred,  because  I  have  not  failed,  God  having 
given  large  acceptance  and  circulation  to  my 
various  and  numerous  publications :  in  conse- 
quence of  which  I  have  the  pleasure  to  think, 
that,  after  my  decease,  there  are  many  who  may 
derive  some  pleasure  and  profit  from  the  labours 
of  my  pen ;  and  especially  that  my  own  church 
and  congregation  will  be  able  to  have  in  remem- 
brance many  of  the  things  they  heard  from  the 
living  voice. 

Nor  do  I  think  I  have  been  mistaken  with  re- 
gard to  the  latter,  when  I  was  led  to  view  my 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  101 


principal  duty  as  lying  in  Argyle  chapel ;  since, 
after  having  preached  there  for  more  than  half-a- 
century,  I  have  had  no  diminution  in  attendance 
or  attention ;  and  I  now  survey  this  large  and 
voluntary  assembly,  convened  together  to  exhi- 
bit tokens  of  their  regard. 

Without  any  intimation  or  promise  from  my- 
self, I  fear  an  expectation  has  been  raised  that, 
on  this  occasion,  I  should  take  rather  a  large 
review  of  a  ministry,  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
whose  ordination,  so  many  of  my  friends  have 
agreed  to  celebrate  in  this  flattering  manner. 
But,  in  the  first  place,  in  the  usual  course  of 
nature,  you  will  soon,  from  what  I  may  leave 
behind  me,  learn  some  of  the  circumstances  of 
my  earlier  history,  if  they  may  be  worth  inquir- 
ing after  ;  and  you  will  see  the  peculiar,  the 
very  peculiar  manner  in  which  the  providence 
of  God,  without  any  design  or  eflbrt  of  my  own, 
or  of  my  humble  friends,  led  me  into  a  work  to 
which  I  have  consecrated  so  large  a  portion  of 
my  life,  happily,  and  I  hope  not  unprofitably. 
And,  in  the  next  place,  on  Sabbath-day  morning 
last  (as  our  chairman  has  mentioned)  I  took  a 
pretty  large  review  of  things  ;  especially  as 
they  led  to  the  formation  of  my  connexion  with 
those  who  have  so  long  been  my  "  hope,  and 
9* 


102 


MORNING  MEETING 


joy,  and  crown  of  rejoicing;"  together  with 
some  other  circumstances  connected  with  the 
church  and  with  the  pastor. 

I  seem,  therefore,  now  only  called  to  do,  what 
would  be  a  very  pleasing  duty  were  it  not  for 
the  load  of  emotion  under  which  I  am  called  to 
discharge  it :  for,  unless  I  were  made  up  of  in- 
sensibility and  stupidity,  you  must  suppose  that 
I  could  not  receive  such  an  address,  such  a 
token,  such  a  testimonial,  without  feelings 
which  would  be  too  oppressive  and  embarrass- 
ing to  allow  of  a  full,  or  perhaps  even  proper, 
utterance.  I  will  not,  therefore,  attempt  what 
I  feel  to  be  impracticable ;  but  will  briefly,  and 
simply,  and  in  a  manner  the  most  respectful 
and  grateful,  acknoAvledge  my  obligations  to 
you,  Mr.  Chairman,  for  your  disinterested,  zeal- 
ous, and  judicious  agency — To  the  gentlemen 
of  the  com.mittee  who  have  been  connected  with 
you  ;  and — To  all  those  who  have  contributed 
on  this  occasion,  as  if  mentioned  by  name. 
Many  of  them  are  present ;  they  can  receive 
my  thanks  from  my  own  lips  immediately  :  and 
I  hope  that,  in  some  way  or  other,  they  will 
reach  all  those  contributors  also  who  are  ab- 
sent ;  for  I  find  that  I  have  had  friends  not  only 
at  home,  but  abroad  :  and  also — To  that  distin- 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  103 


guished  and  truly  Christian  poet  who  has  deign- 
ed to  employ  his  muse  on  this  occasion. 

But  what  do  I  owe  to  those  ladies  who  darted 
into  this  business,  and  who  have  shewn  (they 
are  always  combined  in  them)  so  much  earnest- 
ness and  taste  in  the  arrangement  of  this  festi- 
val ?  I  never  indeed  despair  of  anything  being 
done,  and  being  done  well,  when  it  once  gets 
into  the  heads,  and  the  hearts,  and  the  hands 
of  females.  ]\Iy  fair  sisters,  I  am  not  indulging 
the  language  of  flattery.  My  conscience  bears 
me  witness  that  I  have  always  had  a  concern 
in  private  and  in  public  to  plead  the  cause  of 
your  sex ;  and  you  may  take  it,  if  you  please, 
as  a  kind  of  testamentary  avowal,  that,  in  a  long 
and  not  unobserving  life,  I  have  always  found 
females — like  the  dear  afflicted  one  at  my  right 
hand — worthy  of  peculiar  confidence,  esteem, 
and  praise. 

I  hope  I  have  character  enough  to  obtain  for 
me  a  belief,  when  I  affirm,  that  all,  with  regard 
to  this  jubilee — excepting  the  sacred  part  of  it 
— originated  with,  and  has  been  carried  on  by, 
others :  and  therefore  all  the  guilt  must  rest 
upon  the  heads  of  a  numerous  body  of  friends, 
who  have  been  perhaps  too  partial  and  too  warm 
in  their  friendship. 


104 


MORNING  MEETING 


I  should  be  sorry  if  any  have  been  led  to 
imagine,  because  I  have  generally  been  suc- 
cessful in  life,  that  I  had  now  well-feathered  a 
nest  for  myself,  or  for  one  dearer  to  me  than 
myself.    But  I  can  glory  in  saying,  this  is  not 
the  case.    While,  therefore,  with  regard  to  the 
pecuniary  part  of  this  oblation,  I  am  not  at  a 
loss  to  employ  it,  especially  relatively  and  pros- 
pectively, yet  it  is  not  with  this  that  I  am  prin- 
cipally impressed.    "  How  long  have  I  to  live 
that  I  should  go  up  with  the  king  to  Jerusa- 
lem?"    I  hope  providence  and  grace  have 
taught  me,  in  whatsoever  state  I  have  been, 
therewith  to  be  content.    Nor  can  I  expect  to 
derive  any  immediate  comfort  from  this  present; 
but  as  a  testimony  of  respect  and  approbation 
I  exceedingly  prize  it :  and  there  are  few  things 
which  could  have  afforded  me  more  pleasure, 
considering  the  principle  from  which  the  gift 
has  sprung,  and  the  various  expressions  of 
esteem  and  regard  with  which  it  has  been  ac- 
companied. 

I  feel  also  the  unsectarian  nature  of  this  boon, 
as  it  has  come  from  churchmen  and  from  dis- 
senters, and  from  the  various  religious  parties 
for  whom  I  have  often  preached — and  for  whom 
I  have  always  prayed,  saying,  "  Grace  be  with 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  105 


all  them  that  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sin- 
cerity;" for  "whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of 
my  Father  which  is  in  heaven,  the  same  is  my 
mother,  and  sister,  and  brother." 

From  the  rank  and  office  of  some  of  the  con- 
tributors, in  church  and  state,  perhaps  it  may 
be  expected  that  there  should  be  a  more  distinct 
acknowledgment.  I  am  very  willing  to  render 
to  them  the  praise  which  is  their  due  ;  but  you 
will  allow  me  to  say,  I  have  been  most  affect- 
ed with  the  poor  of  my  flock  :  and  nothing  will 
so  long  remain  written  on  the  fleshly  table  of 
my  heart  as  the  generosity  of  one  individual 
who  presented  sixpence  to  one  of  my  deacons, 
adding, "  I  only  wish  it  were  a  hundred  pounds !" 

I  have  only  one  thing  more  to  add.  1  take 
this  purse,  and  I  present  it  to  you,  madam, 
[addressing  Mrs.  Jay,  in  whose  hands  he  placed 
the  purse,  amidst  the  warm  applause  of  the  com- 
pany~\ — I  present  it  to  you,  madam,  who  have 
always  kept  my  purse,  and  therefore  it  has  been 
so  well  kept.  Consider  it  as  entirely  sacred  to 
your  pleasure,  your  use,  your  service,  your  com- 
fort. I  know  this  has  been  perfectly  unexpected 
by  you,  but  it  is  also  perfectly  deserved  by  you. 

Mr.  Chairman,  and  my  Christian  friends  ; — 
there  is  not  one  here  this  morning  but  would 


106 


MORNING  MEETING 


acquiesce  in  this  appropriation  if  they  knew  the 
value  of  this  female,  as  a  wife  for  more  than  fifty 
years;  and  if  they  knew  also  the  obligation  the 
public  is  under  to  her  (if  I  have  been  enabled 
in  any  measure  and  degree  to  serve  my  genera- 
tion ;)  and  how  much  her  sex  owe  to  one  who 
always  raised  and  confirmed  my  estimation  of 
them ;  and  especially  how  much  my  own  church 
and  congreo^ation  owe  to  one  who  has  watched 
over  their  preacher's  health,  who  has  cheered 
him  under  all  his  trials,  who  has  reminded  him 
continually  of  his  duty,  who  has  animated  him 
in  the  prosecution  of  it,  and  who  has  freed  him, 
when  in  her  power,  from  every  interruption  and 
embarrassment,  that  he  might  be  free  in  his 
work  ;  and  how  much  my  family  owe  to  her  for 
aiding  in  training  up  a  number  of  children  who 
will  always  call  her  blessed,  and  being  the  mo- 
ther of  another  mother  who  now  resides  in 
America,  shining  at  the  head  of  a  lovely  train 
of  thirteen  children,  all  v/alking  with  her  in  the 
way  everlasting,    [^continued  cheering.^ 

The  Chairman  : — You  will  next  be  address- 
ed by  one  of  the  oldest  of  Mr.  Jay's  contempo- 
raries, the  Rev.  Richard  Elliott,  of  Devizes. 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS. 


107 


Rev.  R.  Elliott  : — It  would  be  very  difficult 
for  me  Mr.  Chairman,  and  my  Christian  friends, 
to  tell  you  under  what  class  of  emotions  I  rise 
to  address  you  upon  this  very  interesting  and 
memorable  occasion.     Hearing  that  which  I 
have  just  heard,  witnessing  the  solemn  scene 
which  has  been  presented  to  my  eyes,  and  per- 
ceiving how  deeply  (I  think  I  may  say)  you 
have  all  been  affected,  I  fear  lest  any  remarks 
which  I  may  make,  however  affectionately,  I 
think  of  certain  parties  now  present,  may  tend 
to  do  away  with  the  hallowed  feeling  which 
has  so  delightfully  prevailed  throughout  this 
assembly.    I  could  almost  wish  that  we  were 
about  this  moment  to  separate,  that  we  might 
carry  away  with  us,  uninjured  and  unabated, 
those  sensations  of  which  we  have  been  the 
subjects.    At  the  same  time,  placed  as  I  am  in 
this  position,  by  the  good  will  of  my  friends 
around  me,  and  after,  I  may  now  say,  a  long 
connexion  with  my  dear  and  venerated  friend, 
your  beloved  pastor,  I  should  not  think  it  right 
to  be  entirely  silent,  when  there  are  so  many 
recollections  in  the  years  that  are  past  which 
tend  to  excite  a  feeling  of  gratitude  to  God  for 
mercies  which  have  been  mutually  enjoyed. 
Upon  this  occasion,  most  assuredly,  I  may  be 


108 


MORNING  MEETING. 


allowed,  as  one  not  resident  among  you  in  this 
celebrated  city,  to  congratulate  you,  my  friends 
in  Bath,  for  that  which  has  transpired  in  the 
services  of  this  morning.  For,  although  I  ob- 
serve, in  the  presentation  of  the  Memorial,  that 
notice  is  taken  upon  that  salver  that  this  testi- 
monial has  arisen  from  different  sources  (and 
the  acknowledgment  is  so  far  very  properly 
made,)  yet  I  happen  to  know — and  I  take  the 
opportunity,  as  a  matter  of  duty  to  state  it — that 
this  is  substantially,  and  almost  entirely,  the 
gift  of  the  good  people  in  Bath. 

Having  been  reminded  again  and  again,  in 
the  course  of  these  services,  of  the  lapse  of 
time,  will  you  allow  me  to  refer  to  one  circum- 
stance in  past  history,  which,  if  it  were  in  some 
measure  connected  with  my  own  life,  was  con- 
nected also  with  engagements  of  my  dear  and 
venerated  friend?  I  refer  to  a  period  now 
nearly  seven-and-thirty  years  since,  when,  at 
my  own  ordination,  the  revered  Cornelius  Win- 
ter was  present  to  give  me  ministerial  advice, 
and  my  dear  friend,  Mr.  Jay,  addressed  those 
whom  I  may  still,  through  the  mercy  of  God, 
call  the  people  of  my  charge.  It  is  peculiarly 
touching  when  we  look  back  upon  past  events 
of  this  kind.    I  am  not  conscious  at  the  present 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  109 

moment,  that  there  exists  a  minister,  excepting 
my  dear  friend  here,  who  took  part  in  that  ser- 
vice :  death  has  swept  them  all  away,  and  we 
are  following  hard  after.  Oh !  that  the  senti- 
ments which  have  been  again  and  again  ex- 
pressed this  morning  may  be  realized  by  us  all, 
that  when  we  shall  finish  our  course  we  may 
enter  into  the  joy  of  our  Lord ! 

I  am  almost  forgetting  that  I  am  instructed, 
by  the  paper  put  into  my  hand,  to  pursue  a  pe- 
culiar course  ;  but  the  sentiments  contained  in 
this  resolution,  prepared  by  our  friends,  have 
been  already  so  repeatedly  expressed,  that  you 
will  excuse  me  if  I  do  not  enlarge  upon  them. 
There  are  four  things  contained  in  this  resolu- 
tion. In  the  first  place,  there  is  the  expression 
of  devout  gratitude  to  God,  who  has  been  pleased 
during  the  long  period  of  fifty  years,  to  spare 
our  beloved  friend,  and  to  render  him  useful 
amongst  you.  The  resolution  further  expresses 
your  desire  thankfully  to  record  the  goodness 
of  God  both  towards  him  and  yourselves  in  this 
respect.  It  also  requests  me  to  take  notice  of 
that  which  has  just  fallen  from  the  lips  of  my 
esteemed  friend  himself — the  usefulness  which 
has  attended  his  labours  from  the  press,  in 
England  and  in  other  parts  of  the  world.  And 
10 


110 


MORXING  MEETING 


then  there  is  the  hope  expressed  (oh  !  how  in- 
scrutable are  God  s  ways  !  we  cannot  look  in- 
to futurity  ;  we  know  not  what  a  day  may  bring 
forth) — there  is  the  hope  expressed — and  in 
this,  I  am  persuaded,  you  will  all  sincerely  join 
me — that  for  your  own  sake,  for  the  sake  of  the 
churches,  for  the  sake  of  the  world,  it  may 
please  God  still  long  to  preserve  to  us  our  be- 
loved friend  :  and  when  the  moment  shall  arrive 
at  which  it  shall  be  the  will  of  God  to  take 
him  to  Himself,  that  he  may  have,  as  the  reso- 
lution expresses  it,  "  an  abundant  entrance 
ministered  unto  him  into  the  everlasting  king- 
dom of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ." 

I  trust  Mr.  Chairman,  that  it  vriW  not  be  out 
of  place — and  I  hope  the  audience  will  not 
consider  it  so — if.  looking  around  me  upon  this 
vast  and  interesting  assemblage,  I  express  the 
hope  that  none  of  us  may  be  found  wanting  on 
that  day.  Oh  !  is  not  this  a  season  in  which 
there  should  be  deep  searchings  of  heart  1  May 
there  not  be  present — is  it  not  according  to 
the  ordinary  course  of  things  that  it  should  be 
so — some  who  feel  a  lively  interest  in  passing 
events,  and  who  yet  perhaps  are  still  far  from 
God?  Oh!  what  a  happy  day  will  this  be  for  such, 
if  this  commemoration  should  prove  to  be  the 


AT  THJE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  Ill 


season  of  their  conversion  to  God !  Let  every 
heart  be  lifted  up,  that  the  Spirit  of  God  may 
descend  and  put  such  a  glory  upon  this  Meet- 
ing. 

The  following  is  the  resolution  which  I  beg 
leave  most  respectfully  and  affectionately  to 
move : 

•'That  this  meeting  desire  to  record  its  devout  thankfulness  to 
Almighty  God  lor  the  signal  blessings  which  He  has  bestowed  on 
the  Rev  William  Jay,  in  having  graciously  qualified  and  permitted 
him  to  labour,  with  such  a  large  measure  of  success,  for  fifty 
years,  as  the  Pastor  of  the  Church  and  Congregation  assembled 
in  Argyle  Chapel ;  and  in  having  made  him  the  honoured  instru- 
ment of  widely  diffusing  '  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God'  by  his 
valuable  writings,  both  in  this  countn-  and  in  America.  And  this 
Meeting  would  also  fervently  pray  that  he  may  yet  be  spared  for 
many  years  to  '  preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ ;'  and 
that,  when  he  shall  have  fully  '  ser\-ed  his  generation,  according 
to  the  will  of  God,'  he  may  have  '  an  abundant  entrance  ministered 
unto  him  into  the  everlasting  kingdom  of  our  Lord  and  Saviouj. 
Jesus  Christ.'  ■' 

The  Chairman  : — The  seconding  of  this 
resolution  was  allotted  to  our  friend  W.  Hunt, 
esq.,  the  Mayor  of  Bath.  The  duties  of  his 
cfhce,  however,  require  his  attendance  else- 
where ;  but  I  hold  in  my  hand  a  letter  from  him, 
in  which  he  states  that  he  considers  the  city  of 
Bath  to  be  more  indebted  to  Mr.  Jay  than  to 
any  other  individual  with  whom  he  is  acquaint- 
ed ;  and  he  laments  that  he  cannot  be  with  us  to 


112 


MORNING  MEETING. 


bear  this  testimony  personally,  I  know  his 
heart  is  with  us,  though  his  duties  call  him 
away. 

The  duty  of  seconding  the  resolution  will  be 
performed  by  a  minister  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land— the  Rev.  J.  G.  Bedford,  of  Winchester, 
who  has  kindly  stated  that  he  will  supply  any 
vacancy  which  may  be  occasioned. 

Rev.  J.  G.  Bedford  : — Mr.  Chairman,  Friends 
and  Brethren.  I  rise  with  the  utmost  pleasure 
to  second  this  resolution ;  and  I  thank  the 
chairman  for  acceding  to  my  request  on  entering 
this  room,  that  I.  might  be  permitted  to  address 
you  on  this  heart-stirring  occasion,  and  to  give 
expression  to  the  feelings  of  which  my  breast  is 
full.  I  shall  detain  you  but  for  a  few  moments, 
for  I  have  lived  many  years  in  retirement,  and 
am  unaccustomed  to  take  part  in  public  business, 
or  to  speak  on  public  occasions.  But  being,  as 
I  am  told,  the  eldest  of  the  very  few  ministers 
of  the  Church  of  England  who  are  present  in 
this  room,  I  considered  that  I  had  something 
like  a  claim  to  offer  my  testimony  in  that 
character  to  the  eminent  worth  of  your  beloved 
pastor,  and,  if  he  will  permit  me  to  call  him  so, 
my  revered  and  honoured  friend. 

Brethren,  blindness  has  made  me  a  very  un- 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS. 


113 


serviceable  minister  of  the  church  :  and  nature 
and  Providence  have  placed  me  at  a  great 
distance  below  my  honoured  friend ;  but  I 
lament  my  obscurity  on  the  present  occasion 
only  because  it  diminishes  the  dignity  and  the 
grace,  although  it  cannot  invalidate  the  truth, 
of  my  testimony.  I  will  not  repine  at  this  dis- 
pensation ;  and  1  bless  God  that  the  loss  of  my 
sight  has  made  me  exercise  more  assiduously 
the  mental  eye,  and  has  made  me,  perhaps, 
dwell  more  intently  upon  objects  which,  in  the 
daylight  of  my  youth,  I  passed  by  too  lightly. 

My  brethren,  one  subject  of  my  reflections 
has  been  this — Have  the  holy  Scriptures  indeed 
placed  any  barrier  betwixt  me  and  my  invalu- 
able friend  1  Is  it  true,  that  because  my  parents 
were  of  the  Church  of  England — that  because  I 
was  taught  by  them  to  love  and  honour  the  doc- 
trines and  the  liturgy  of  my  church,  and  because 
I  still  love  them,  still  prefer  episcopacy  as  a 
form  of  government — I  am,  therefore,  separated 
from  the  eminent  servants  of  God  of  other  de- 
nominations ?  Brethren,  my  children  have  read 
to  me  the  Scriptures  in  the  original  language ; 
and  I  declare  to  you  with  perfect  confidence 
that  there  are  no  such  barriers.  There  are 
no  such  barriers  in  the  reformed  Church  of 
10* 


114 


MORNING  MEETING 


England.  There  are  no  such  barriers  in  the 
nineteenth  and  twentieth  articles  of  the  Church. 
There  are  no  such  barriers  in  the  writings  of 
the  Reformers ;  there  are  no  such  barriers  in 
the  writings  of  Usher  and  Leighton,  nor  in  any 
of  the  great  divines  v/hom  I  love  to  follow  as 
my  guides. 

It  is  for  these  reasons  that  I  sincerely  lament 
that  none  of  the  bishops  or  superior  clergy  are 
present  to  supersede  me  on  this  occasion,  and 
take  the  office  which  I  now  claim,  of  offering  a 
testimony  so  richly  due  to  the  eminent  worth 
of  your  beloved  pastor.  Yes,  my  friends,  I 
stand  forward,  humble  and  obscure  as  I  am,  to 
offer  that  testimony.  I  pass  no  censure  be- 
cause the  eminent  and  excellent  men  whom  I 
have  mentioned  are  absent  to-day.  What  is 
the  cause  ?  The  cause  lies  in  the  unripeness 
of  the  age.  These  men  are  absent  because 
they  are  withheld  by  their  sense  of  duty,  by 
their  conscientious  opinions,  by  their  conscien- 
tious scruples,  and  fears :  and,  if  I  enjoy  my 
own  Christian  liberty,  I  will  not  impugn  the 
liberty  of  others.  No.  But  I  am  here  to  testi- 
fy that  the  Church  of  England  is  deeply  in- 
debted to  the  labours  of  Mr.  Jay.  I  refer  to 
the  bright  and  steady  light  which  has  shone  in 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  115 

this  city  for  fifty  years,  and  which  began  to 
shine  in  a  time  of  gross  and  palpable  darkness. 
What !  shall  we  not  claim  fellowship  with  a 
fellow-labourer  who  has  helped  us  to  reap  in 
the  harvest  when  the  labourers  were  few  ? 
Shall  we  not  thank  him  for  helping  to  feed  the 
flocks  which  were  wandering  unprovided  on  the 
mountains  ? 

I  refer,  also,  to  his  admirable  and  useful 
writings,  which  are  mentioned  in  this  resolu- 
tion. They  are  upon  the  library  shelves  of  all 
our  clergy;  and  I  have  heard  more  than  one 
dignitary  of  the  church  allow  that  a  clerical 
library  is  not  complete  without  them.  Why, 
shall  we  forget  the  "  Christian  Contemplated," 
which  is  a  comfort  in  the  cottage  as  well  as  the 
palace  ?  Shall  we  forget  the  "  Morning"  and 
"  Evening  Exercises,"  which  are  the  consola- 
tion of  the  rich  and  the  poor,  both  in  and  out 
of  the  Establishment ;  and  are  to  be  found  in 
the  huts  of  furthest  America,  and  India,  and 
Australia.  I  know  that  they  are  in  the  tent  of 
one  young  soldier  in  the  dreary  mountains 
which  separate  India  from  Affghanistan  ;  and  I 
bless  God  that  I  know  it. 

Yes;  and  I  must  here  mention  the  extreme 
usefulness  of  those  practical  lessons  which  the 


IIG 


MORNING  MEETING 


younger  clergy  have  derived  from  Mr.  Jay  in 
pulpit  oratory ;  nay,  I  will  avow  that  the  pulpits 
of  the  Establishment  are  even  now  resounding 
with  the  noble  arguments,  the  bold  and  clear 
distinctions,  the  pointed  illustrations,  and  with 
the  glowing  expressions  of  this  preacher.  Can 
I  blame  the  clergy  for  this  ?  By  no  means  : 
they  do  well  to  use  such  rich  materials ;  but 
then  let  us  have  the  honesty  to  acknowledge  it. 
I  will  at  least  make  my  own  confession.  I  have 
for  many  years,  from  time  lo  time,  sat  at  the 
feet  of  this  dear  instructor,  and  that  with  deep 
and  increasing  delight.  But  I  should  offer  him 
but  a  poor  tribute  if  I  did  not  add,  the  hope  that 
I  have  done  so  with  growing  profit,  and  deep- 
ened impressions. 

My  friends,  there  is  another  testimony  I 
would  bear  this  day  upon  a  point  which,  I  am 
sure,  has  cost  our  dear  friend  some  pain.  I 
mean  the  notion  that  Mr.  Jay  has  spoken  of- 
fensively of  the  Church  of  England.  It  is  im- 
possible that  he  should  have  done  so.  I  have 
heard  him  speak  with  deserved  rebuke  and 
ridicule  of  intolerance  and  bigotry  ;  but  I  never 
heard  an  offensive  word  proceed  from  his  mouth. 
It  has  been  a  sublime  spectacle  to  me  to  see  a 
man  of  his  amazing  powers  abstain  from  employ- 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS. 


117 


ing  them  in  the  all-absorbing  politics  and  con- 
tentions of  the  day.  I  have  seen  him  sit  apart, 
and  pursue  his  tranquil  course,  looking  quietly- 
down  upon  the  contentions  and  tumults  beneath 
him.  Lucretius,  the  Roman  poet,  imagined 
such  a  picture ;  but,  believe  me,  the  Christian 
philosopher  alone  can  realize  it. 

Now  it  is  from  this  eminence  that  he  has 
come  down  to  be  amongst  us  this  day.  We  know 
that  he  comes  forth  from  his  closet,  and  from  his 
books,  w^ith  some  degree  of  unwillingness.  And 
we  ought  to  consider  it  as  a  mark  of  the  bene- 
volence of  his  disposition  that  he  has  yielded  to 
your  wishes  on  this  occasion,  and  consented  to 
a  public  exhibition  so  alien  to  his  habits  and  his 
principles.  We  know  that  heart  religion  is  a 
jealous  thing :  it  fears  lest  the  brightness  of  its 
garments  should  be  sullied  in  the  public  way. 
It  fears  to  expose  the  heavenly  treasure  in  the 
world's  market,  lest  it  should  receive  the  least 
stain  or  diminution.  But,  in  thanking  him  for 
thus  conceding  to  our  wishes,  I  feel  that  he  has 
done  so  on  a  very  high  principle :  that  he  thought 
it  his  duty  not  to  withhold  his  testimony  here  to- 
day, that  God's  saints  are  held  in  honour  even 
here.  And  he  is  conscious  also,  he  must  be 
conscious,  that  we  have  a  warrant  for  this 
bestowal,  because  God  has  bestowed  His  war- 


118 


MORNING  MEETING 


rant,  and  has  blessed  his  labours  to  the  souls  of 
thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  his  fellow- 
creatures. 

Friends  and  brethren,  I  have  reached  the  true 
ground  at  last.  This  is  the  common  ground 
upon  which  your  testimony  and  mine  are  offer" 
ed  to-day.  It  is  no  longer  a  question  between 
Churchmen  and  Dissenters.  Men  of  great  and 
eminent  usefulness  are  not  the  property  of  any 
section  of  the  community :  they  are  the  pro- 
perty of  the  Church  universal ;  they  are  the 
property  of  the  human  race  ;  and,  since  such 
men's  deeds  live  after  them,  they  belong  to  men 
and  to  times  which  are  to  come  after.  My 
friends,  I  support  this  resolution  with  my  whole 
heart. 

The  Chairman  : — The  motion  will  be  sup- 
ported by  our  friend,  Mr.  Haynes,  of  Bristol. 

The  Rev.  T.  Haynes: — Mr.  Chairman, — 
when  I  arrived  at  your  house  this  morning,  I 
had  no  conception  that  I  should  be  called  upon 
to  take  any  part  in  the  engagements  of  this  day ; 
nor  would  any  thing  have  induced  me  to  forego 
my  own  determination  but  that  one  sentiment 
which  you  declared  to  me,  intimating  that  it  was 
the  wish  of  a  friend,  whom  I  cannot  and  dare 
not  refuse. 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  119 


I  participate,  my  friends,  fully,  and  I  hope 
with  all  my  heart,  in  the  high  tone  of  spiritual 
feeling  to  which  this  meeting  has  been  raised  by 
the  luminious  and  attractive  statements  with 
which  we  have  been  so  greatly  delighted,  edified, 
and  impressed ;  and  I  sympathize  most  cordially 
in  the  sentiment  of  the  speaker  who  has  lately 
sat  down.  I  feel  it  to  be  a  privilege,  sir,  to  be 
in  the  society  of  men  who  feel  that  they  are 
Christians  more  than  that  they  belong  to  any 
section  of  the  church  of  Christ.  I  have  learned, 
sir,  to  feel  that  my  personal  Christianity  is  the 
first  boon  I  hold ;  that  my  New  Testament  is 
the  next ;  and  that  I  must  live  and  walk  in  har- 
mony with  that  boon,  let  others  live  as  they 
may.  It  is  a  blessed  thing  to  be  able  to  trace, 
in  the  inspired  pages  of  the  New  Testament, 
the  great  principle,  that  spiritual  Christianity  is 
the  gift  of  God  :  and  that,  when  it  comes  on  a 
man's  mind  in  illumination,  and  upon  his  heart 
in  its  impelling  and  saving  power,  it  raises  him 
not  only  above  his  degradation  as  a  sinner, 
but  above  his  ordinary  position  as  an  intelli- 
gent agent  in  the  creation  of  God.  It  makes 
him  a  higher  man ;  it  makes  him  a  nobler  being  ; 
it  rarifies  his  Christian  principle  in  proportion 
as  he  adopts  and  as  he  breathes  its  spirit. 


120 


MORNING  MEETING 


I  think  we  have  had  a  lovely  example  of  this 
fact  this  morning.  I  felt  a  very  deep  and  stir- 
ring interest  in  the  address  v^rhich  was  given  to 
us  by  our  venerated  friend ;  and  if,  as  a  minis- 
ter, I  were  only  to  say,  that  he  ought  to  live  in 
the  affections  of  every  minister  of  the  gospel, 
but  especially  those  of  his  own  denomination, 
whom  he  has  always  been  willing  to  smile 
upon,  and  to  help  when  he  could — always  will- 
ing to  serve  and  to  assist,  when  it  was  in  his 
power — I  think,  if  it  were  only  on  this  ground, 
his  ministerial  brethren  would  say,  This  is  the 
man  whom  we  delight  to  honour.  I  believe  I 
speak  the  sentiments  of  every  heart  in  this  as- 
sembly, as  well  as  my  own,  when  I  bear  this 
testimony  both  to  the  kindness  of  spirit,  the  ur- 
banity of  manners,  the  frankness,  and  the  hearti- 
ness, with  which  our  friend  has  always  render- 
ed his  assistance  to  a  ministerial  brother,  who 
has  asked  for  his  help  to  plead  the  cause  of 
charity,  or  to  further  any  of  the  objects  of  the 
Christian  ministry,  in  which  he  has  been  so 
honourably  and  so  highly  engaged. 

But,  sir,  can  I  look  round  on  this  assembly, 
and  endeavour  to  feel  with  them  as  I  know 
they  do  towards  the  man  who  has  been  for  fifty  i 
years  their  pastor,  leading  them  in  the  ways  of  j 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  121 

years  their  pastor,  leading  them  in  the  ways  of 
truth  and  righteousness,  without  knowing  that 
there  is  many  a  heart  here  which  can  say  of 
the  sanctuary  where  he  labours,  "  I  was  born 
there  ?  "    Oh  !  sir,  what  a  sentiment  is  this  ! 
Crowns  and  sceptres,  what  are  they  compared 
with  the  honour  of  having  led  a  wanderer  back 
again  to  the  fold,  and  carried  the  message  of 
mercy  and  of  life  to  the  dreary  understanding 
and  the  degraded  heart  of  a  fallen  and  apostate 
sinner  ?    This  honour  encircles  our  dear  friend 
on  this  occasion.    He  can  say  of  and  to  many 
of  you,  not  only,  "  Ye  are  my  glory  and  my 
joy;"  but  he  can  speak  of  you  as  those  whom 
he  has  been  instrumental  in  begetting  in  the 
Lord.    Oh  !   what  a  noble,  what  an  animating 
testimony  is  this  of  the  divine  approval  !  Sir, 
we  know  that  others  may  talk  of  signs  and  to- 
kens of  divine  approval ;  but  if  we  see  the  bless- 
ing of  God  resting  on  a  man's  testimony,  and 
the  power  of  the  Spirit  carrying  the  message 
he  delivers  to  the  conscience  and.to  .the  heart, 
there  is  the  sign  that  a  man  has  the  apostle's 
spirit,  and  the  apostle's  testimony,  and  the  apos- 
tle's success. 

I  was  pleaded  to  hear  the  allusion  made  by 
the  last  speaker  to  the  writings  of  my  revered 
11 


122 


MORNING  MEETING 


friend.  I  was  delighted  to  hear  him  specify 
"  The  Christian  Contemplated,"  and  one  or  two 
other  works.  But,  sir,  we  all  have  our  likings 
— we  all  have  our  particular  feelings  and  tastes ; 
and  perhaps  our  circumstances  contribute  very 
much  to  the  growth  of  the  one  and  the  quality 
of  the  other  ;  but  let  me  say,  that  the  "  Life  of 
Winter" — the  book  of  his  youth,  and  the  book 
of  his  heart,  memorializing  the  friend  he  tender- 
ly loved,  who  had  taken  him  by  the  hand  and 
led  him  into  the  ministry — the  "  Life  of  Winter" 
is  the  book  for  me.  I  have  the  pleasure  of 
knowing  that  that  book  has  been  very  useful  to 
many  a  young  minister,  both  in  determining  re- 
solutions which  were  feeble  and  changing,  in 
fixing  principles  which  were  all  but  evaporat- 
ing in  the  mind,  and  in  directing  the  heart  to 
the  right  tone  of  Christian  ministration,  and  the 
right  solicitude  of  Christian  pastorship  and  fel- 
lowship, which  the  minister  of  the  gospel 
should  be  anxious  to  sustain.  I  am  not  asham- 
ed to  say  for  myself,  and  to  confess  with  feel- 
ings of  love — and  I  will  not  yield  to  any  other 
in  the  warmth  with  which  I  cherish  them — 
that  to  that  book  I  am  indebted  more  than  to 
any  other  human  book  for  the  desires,  the  hopes, 
the  feelings,  and  the  sentiments,  which  I  have 
been  led  to  entertain,  primarily  with  respect  to 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  123 

the  ministry  itself,  and  afterwards  with  regard 
to  its  spirit,  characterj  and  tone.  And  if  I  could 
desire  for  myself  a  blessing,  or  ask  it  for  others, 
I  should  say,  Give  me  the  mind  and  the  heart 
of  Winter,  and  let  me  have  it  in  the  tone  and 
temper  of  his  biographer ;  let  me  feel  to  his 
eminent  piety  as  my  venerated  friend  felt  to- 
wards his  tutor  ;  and  let  me  admire,  and  love, 
and  walk  in  the  steps  of  those  who  have  so 
carefully  followed  our  Lord  and  his  apostles. 

I  will  not  trespass  longer  on  your  time ;  but 
most  cordially  and  heartily  support  the  resolu- 
tion. 

The  Chairman  then  put  the  resolution  to  the 
meeting,  and  it  was  unanimously  agreed  to. 

The  Rev.  T.  East,  of  Birmingham  : — Mr. 
Chairman,  without  the  least  affectation,  I  at 
once  confess  that  I  feel  very  much  embarrass- 
ed ;  and  I  fear  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  devolving  upon  me  in  moving 
this  resolution,  without  being  in  great  danger 
of  trespassing  on  those  hallowed  laws  of  cour- 
teous delicacy  to  which  every  wise  and  good 
man  is  expected  to  bow  down  and  do  homage. 
I  think,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  you  and  the  whole 


124 


MORNING  MEETING 


of  this  audience  will  admit  this  after  I  have 
read  the  resolution — 

"  That  the  friends  of  the  Rev.  William  Jay,  now  assembled, 
desire  to  offer  liim  their  sincere  congratulations  on  this  truly  in- 
teresting occasion,  and  would  beg  to  assure  him  of  their  high 
esteem  and  unabated  regard,  and  of  the  gratitude  which  they  cher- 
ish for  the  many  spiritual  benefits  which,  under  God,  they  have 
derived  from  liis  eminently  useful  labours  as  a  faitlifulmuiister  of 
Jesus  Christ." 

I  would  not,  Mr.  Chairman,  wound  a  heart 
which  I  would  ever  step  forward  to  protect 
from  a  painful  touch ;  nor  would  I  give  utter- 
ance to  a  single  expression  which  should  in- 
duce any  one  to  imagine  I  am  about  to  offer  the 
incense  of  mere  flattery.  My  post  is  delicate  : 
I  must  speak  to  the  resolution,  or  hold  my 
tongue.  My  resolution  is  one  of  congratula- 
tion, pledging  you  who  are  disposed  to  support 
it  to  the  cultivation  of  those  hallowed  affections 
which  we  may  all  cherish  towards  a  faithful 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ  without  giving  offence 
to  his  Master. 

Allow  me,  then,  my  deeply-respected  and 
venerated  friend,  to  congratulate  you  on  the 
high  honour  God  conferred  upon  you  when  he 
called  you  by  his  grace,  and  counted  you  faith- 
ful, putting  you  into  the  ministry.  Allow  me  to 
congratulate  you  on  the  peculiar  talents  with 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  125 

which  you  have  been  entrusted,  and  the  very 
eminent  services  which  the  exercise  of  those 
talents  has  rendered  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  not 
simply  in  this  country,  but  throughout  the  whole 
universe  of  being  ;  and  to  express  my  decided 
opinion  that  there  is  not  one  man  living  whose 
labours  have  been  more  eminently  blessed,  di- 
rectly and  indirectly,  than  yours,  in  advancing 
the  cause  of  God  our  Saviour. 

Allow  me,  my  dear  friend,  to  congratulate 
you  that  you  have  passed  through  life  so  far, 
without  having  been  permitted  to  fall  into  any 
speculative  or  practical  errors,  but  have  been 
upheld  by  the  grace  of  God  to  the  very  present 
day.  And  allow  me  to  congratulate  you  on  the 
prospect  there  is  before  you. 

Shall  I  tell  you  a  little  anecdote  ?  Perhaps 

it  may  be  remembered  when  every  other  part  of 

what  I  may  say  will  be  forgotten.    A  gentleman 

of  pre-eminent  piety,  a  resident  some  years  at 

Bristol,  was  taken  ill  a  little  while  before  he 

was  missed  out  of  the  circle  in  v/hich  he  moved ; 

for  though  not  a  "  religious  gipsy,"  he  was  the 

friend  of  all  parties,  and  stood  unconnected  with 

any.  At  length  he  was  missed.  A  friend  called 

to  see  him — saw  him  on  his  bed — saw  him  ill 

— saw  him  dying, — and  congratulated  him  that 
11* 


126 


MORNING  MEETING 


he  was  now  going  home.  With  a  smile  on  his 
countenance,  he  replied,  '*  Yes ;  and  my  Father 
is  waiting  to  receive  me."  My  dear  sir,  you 
will  not  enter  heaven  unexpectedly,  when  you 
do  enter  it ;  you  will  not  enter  it  as  a  stranger ; 
you  will  not  enter  it  as  one  unwelcome.  There 
are  thousands  there  waiting  your  arrival.  There 
is  your  Father,  there  is  your  Saviour,  there  is 
your  Master  ;  there  are  your  spiritual  children. 
My  dear  sir,  the  greater  part  of  the  rest  of  your 
life,  lengthened  out  as  I  hope  it  will  be,  ought 
to  be  spent  alternately  betwixt  gratitude  and 
dependence — that  God  has  so  much  for  you, 
and  that  there  is  yet  so  much  remaining  to  be 
accomplished. 

My  resolution  pledges  you,  my  Christian 
friends  who  support  it,  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
affection,  the  esteem,  the  regard,  and  the  grati- 
tude which  you  may  cherish  towards  our  es- 
teemed friend,  as  a  faithful  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ,  without  giving  offence  to  his  Master. 
We  do  not  come'  here  to  flatter ;  we  do  not  come 
here  to  applaud ;  we  do  not  come  here  to  raise 
a  monument  of  praise  to  the  honour  and  the  glory 
of  the  man,  his  talents,  or  his  agency ;  for  there 
js  a  little  expression  within  the  parenthesis  of 
my  motion  which  will  lead  me  to  a  conclusion — 


JLT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS. 


127 


"  All  under  God."  And  I  am  sure  I  speak  the 
sentiment  of  my  friend  when  I  say  he  would 
arise  to  respond  to  this  declaration — it  is  through 
the  grace  of  God  he  is  what  he  is  ;  through  that 
grace  he  has  been  enabled  to  do  what  he  has 
done  ;  and  to  that  grace  he  now,  with  you,  and 
all  the  people  of  God  throughout  the  world,  will 
ascribe  the  glory  for  ever  and  for  ever. 

I  cannot  sit  down — as  I  have  a  nephew  in 
this  city,  a  clergyman,  who  is  not  present  this 
morning — without  referring  to  the  speech  which 
has  been  delivered  by  a  clergyman  present. 
He  used  one  very  happy  expression  :  it  was  this, 
if  I  have  caught  it  rightly — that  the  primary 
reason  why  so  many  good  men  belonging  to  the 
Church  of  England  are  absent  this  morning, 
who  might  have  been  here,  is  not  to  be  attri- 
buted so  much  to  the  badness  of  their  spirit  as 
to  the  unripeness  of  the  age.  That  is  it.  They 
are  men  of  God  ;*  they  are  faithful  ministers  of 
Jesus  Christ ;  they  are  serving  their  generation 
according  to  his  will ;  they  long  to  see  a  blessed 
change  throughout  the  whole  moral  world- 
Give  them  time,  they  will  come  right  at  last,  I 
have  not  the  least  doubt:  and  if  the  present 
generation  come  not  right,  recollect  they  are 


128  MORNIXG  MEETING 

preparing  the  way  themselves  to  correct  the 
generation  that  will  succeed  them. 

At  any  rate,  Christian  friends,  mind  one  thing. 
What  you  think  wrong  in  them,  correct  in  your- 
selves. Do  not  censure,  do  not  condemn.  Let 
a  good  spirit,  a  generous  feeling,  be  displayed 
by  you  on  all  occasions  :  and  then  by  the  force 
of  comparison,  they  will  see  there  is  something 
defective  in  themselves  in  which  you  excel. 
This,  if  sanctified,  will  have  a  fine  efi'ect — first, 
on  you,  and  then  on  them  ;  till  God  brings  about 
that  period  of  ripeness  when  we  may  all  live  in 
love  and  in  peace. 

W.  T.  Blair,  Esq. : — Mr.  Chairman,  and 
Christian  friends. — I  hope  that  the  pleasure,  the 
entire  cordiality,  with  which  I  rise  to  second 
this  resolution,  will  not  be  measured  by  the 
number  of  words  I  may  employ  in  doing  so :  for 
when  I  was  applied  to,  to  take  a  part  in  the 
proceedings  of  this  morning,  I  took  the  liberty 
of  stipulating,  not  for  freedom  of  speech,  but 
for  the  greatest  possible  limitation  of  it;  and 
for  this  very  good  reason  amongst  others,  that, 
in  the  present  state  of  my  voice,  I  am  incapable 
of  addressing  so  large  a  meeting  for  more  than 
a  few  minutes,  without  great  inconvenience. 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS. 


129 


While  this  is  my  apology,  if  apology  be 
necessary,  for  not  saying  much,  I  should  indeed 
be  doing  violence  to  all  my  feelings  as  a  man 
and  as  a  Christian, — nay  more,  I  should  be 
ashamed  of  myself  and  of  my  Christianity, — if 
I  hesitated,  on  such  an  occasion,  thankfully  to 
embrace  the  opportunity  presented  to  me  to 
add,  however  briefly,  my  humble  but  hearty 
testimony  to  the  tribute  of  respect  and  affection 
which  we  are  now  met  to  offer  to  the  venerable 
and  venerated  individual  whose  long  and  emi- 
nent pastorate  we  are  commemorating. 

It  would  not  only  be  wanting  in  good  taste, 
but  unbecoming  the  occasion,  to  use  the  com- 
mon language  of  paneg)Tic  in  speaking  of  our 
esteemed  and  honoured  friend,  and  allow  me  to 
add  of  my  esteemed  and  honoured  friend  ;  and 
yet  it  is  difficult  to  allude  to  such  a  man,  while 
using  the  words  of  truth  and  soberness,  without 
being  in  some  danger  of  erring  in  this  respect. 
But  all  studied  eulogium  would  be  both  imper- 
tinent and  unnecessary  in  the  case  of  one  who 
will  live  in  his  admirable  writings  long  after 
the  voice  of  human  applause  shall  cease  to 
sound  in  his  ears,  and  whose  name  will  be 
embalmed  throughout  eternity,  in  the  grateful 
reminiscence  of  multitudes  who  look  to  him  as 


130 


MORNING  MEETING, 


the  instrument  of  their  salvation.  Truly  he 
needs  not  epistles  of  commendation  from  men, 
and,  I  am  sure,  he  seeks  them  not.  Though 
his  'praise  may  be  in  all  the  churches,  yet  his 
best  record  is  on  high,  and  his  reward  is  with 
his  God. 

To  spend  and  be  spent  in  the  most  obscure 
walk  of  the  Christian  ministry  is  an  honour 
that  might  well  satisfy  the  ambition  of  any  man : 
but  to  be  placed  on  such  an  eminence  as  to  be 
the  chief  ornament  of  one  of  the  first  cities  of 
the  empire  for  half  a  century ;  to  have  been 
permitted  during  all  that  time  to  sustain  an  un- 
tarnished reputation  before  men ;  and  to  have 
employed  unceasingly  all  the  powers  of  an 
original  and  vigorous  intellect  in  instructing  and 
blessing  mankind  ;  is  a  distinction  conferred  on 
very  few,  and  in  comparison  of  which  all  world- 
ly honours  and  possessions — even  the  Roman 
purple  and  the  dominion  of  the  world — are 
splendid  baubles.  But  the  highest  tribute  by 
far  that  can  be  paid  to  the  protracted  labours 
and  worth  of  our  revered  friend  will  be  found, 
not  in  loud  applauses,  nor  in  recording  them  on 
tables  of  stone,  or  more  enduring  brass,  but  in 
their  being  engraved  by  the  finger  of  God  on 
the  many  living  seals  that  have  been  given  to 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS. 


131 


him  for  his  ministry :  and  if  we  desire,  in  the 
way  most  acceptable  to  the  faithful  minister  of 
Christ,  to  cheer  the  evening  of  his  days  and  to 
enhance  his  joys  hereafter,  let  us  be  fervent  in 
supplicating  the  throne  of  grace  that  a  richer 
unction  and  a  double  portion  of  the  Spirit  may 
rest  upon  him,  and  that  the  gospel  which  he 
proclaims  with  so  much  simplicity,  perspicuity, 
and  fidelity,  may  prove  a  savour  of  life  to  in- 
creasing numbers  who  may  be  privileged  to 
hear  the  truth  from  his  lips.  I  will  only  add 
my  fervent  hope  that  so  valuable  a  life  may  be 
protracted  to  a  distant  period,  and  in  all  the 
vigour  and  glow  of  health  in  which  we  now  de- 
light to  behold  it.  May  it  prove  a  cruda  viri- 
dlsque  senectus  to  the  last;  and  whenever  in 
the  providence  of  God,  his  honoured  servant 
shall  be  called  to  finish  his  course  with  joy  and 
the  ministry  he  has  received  of  the  Lord,  may 
he  take  his  place  amongst  those  who,  having 
turned  many  to  righteousness,  shall  shine  as 
the  stars  in  the  kingdom  of  their  Father  for  ever 
and  ever. 

The  Rev.  S.  Martin,  of  Cheltenham  :— Mr. 
Chairman,  and  dear  Christian  friends, — 1  am 
placed  in  this  position  entirely  by  the  impulse 


132 


MORNING  MEETING 


of  gratitude.  Many  reasons  which  I  need  not 
mention  would  have  urged  me  to  have  kept  in 
the  quiet  seat  which  I  have  been  occupying  for 
some  time ;  but  my  own  library  shelves  bear 
testimony  to  the  kindness  of  the  Christian 
friends  in  Bath,  and  I  would  therefore  now  pub- 
licly rejoice  with  their  joy,  that  they  may  see 
that  I  am  not  insensible  to  kindness  when 
shown  to  another,  while  I  am  thoroughly  con- 
scious of  it  when  manifested  to  myself. 

This  resolution  calls  upon  me  to  offer  con- 
gratulations to  your  venerated  and  beloved  pas- 
tor.   The  remarks  which  have  been  made  have 
chiefly  referred  to  the  past  and  the  present ; 
but  while  I  have  been  sitting  here,  I  have  been 
thinking  that  the  life  of  your  beloved  pastor  is 
yet  to  come.    The  seventy-one  years  which 
he  has  spent  here,  these  are  but  the  bud  of  his 
being :  all  the  fruits  that  you  have  seen  in  his 
character  and  in  his  ministry,  these  are  but  the 
blossoms  of  the  spring  :  and  if  this  be  the  mani- 
festation you  have  beheld  in  the  meaner  part  of 
his  existence,  what  shall  -the  fruit  be  when  the 
voice  shall  be  heard,  "  Thrust  in  "thy  sickle,  and 
reap,  for  the  harvest  of  the  earth  is  fully  ripe 
Mr.  Jay,  sir,  has  yet  scarcely  begun  to  exist : 
*'  for  what  is  our  life  ?•  ,Jt  is  but  a  vapour  that 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  133 

appeareth  for  a  little  time,  and  then  vanisheth 
away."  But  vapours,  you  know,  sir,  though 
they  are  light  and  airy,  and  are  carried  about  by 
every  small  wind,  are  important  in  their  relation 
to  the  ocean.  They  rise  from  the  ocean,  they 
fall  upon  the  mountain,  they  constitute  the  tor- 
rent, they  fill  the  bed  of  the  river,  and  then  they 
mingle  again  with  the  mighty  waters.  T/m5  these 
seventy-one  years  which  have  arisen  from  the 
immensity  of  God's  nature,  and  which  you  have 
seen  move  as  the  little  cloud,  and  descend  in 
fertilizing  influences  upon  human  hearts,  these 
have  yet  to  be  seen  in  the  ocean  of  immortality, 
moving  throughout  eternity,  to  the  glory  and 
praise  of  God. 

"  The  righteous,"  it  is  said,  "  shall  flourish 
like  the  palm  tree  :  he  shall  grow  like  a  cedar 
in  Lebanon.  Those  that  be  planted  in  the 
house  of  the  Lord  shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of 
our  God.  They  shall  still  bring  forth  fruit  in 
old  age  ;  they  shall  be  fat  and  flourishing ;  to 
shew  that  the  Lord  is  upright :  He  is  my  rock, 
and  there  is  no  unrighteousness  in  Him."  We 
see  this  day  an  illustration  of  these  truths. 
The  blind,  sir,  that  cannot  see  this  stately  palm 
and  this  majestic  cedar,  have  plucked  of  the 
fruit,  and  have  found  it  pleasant  unto  their  taste 
12 


134 


MORNING  MEETING 


They,  sir,  have  been  nourished  by  this  tree, 
which  has  not  been  an  object  of  vision,  but 
which  has  appeared  to  their  immortal  nature, 
and  made  impressions  there  which  will  be 
amply  sufficient  to  enable  them  to  recognise 
that  being  when  he  and  those  whom  he  has 
blessed  shall  appear  at  the  bar  of  their  God. 
Mr.  Jay  has  had  joys,  sir ;  but  what  are  those 
joys  in  comparison  with  the  pleasures  which 
are  to  come  ?    He  knew  the  joy  which  attended 
his  first  introduction  as  a  youth  to  the  ministry 
of  the  gospel,  and  the  thrill  of  delight  which  he 
experienced  when  first  he  knew  that  a  soul 
was  converted  by  his  ministry — when  first  he 
could  say,  "  This  is  the  seal  of  mine  apostleship, 
the  soul  that  I  have  won  unto  Christ."    But  he 
has  yet  to  see  gathered  around  him  the  children 
whom  God  hath  given  him,  whom  no  being  yet 
can  count  up ;  for  they  shall  not  be  reckoned 
till  the  Lord  reckoneth  up  the  people,  and  until 
it  shall  be  said  of  different  sanctuaries,  "  This 
and  that  man  were  born  there,  and  these  were 
converted  to  God  here."    I  say,  sir,  he  has 
yet  to  know  the  joy  of  the  Christian  minister's 
relation;  he  has  yet  to  see  gathered  the  fruits 
of  his  ministry. 

He  knows,  sir,  what  activity  is ;  but  what  has 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS. 


135 


been  the  activity  of  his  life  in  comparison  with 
the  activity  that  is  yet  to  come  ?  Has  he  not, 
though  he  has  had  health,  been  paralysed  and 
hindered  by  the  bondage  of  corruption  1  He 
has  yet  to  know  what  freedom  of  action  is,  with 
a  glorified  body,  and  in  a  dwelling  where  every 
thing  around  him  and  every  thing  within  him 
will  conspire  to  promote  an  immortal  energy. 
He  has  to  know  the  joy  of  action  without  any 
thing  like  a  hinderance,  without  any  thing  like  a 
clog,  witout  any  thing  like  fatigue.  He  has  yet 
to  know  what  it  is  to  move  through  immortality 
towards  God,  and  to  feel  m  that  motion  the  utmost 
thrill  of  delight,  without  the  least  sensation  of 
w^eariness  or  labour.  What,  sir,  have  been  his 
labours,  and  what  have  been  his  joys,  in  compa- 
rison with  the  pleasures  and  the  exercises  of  im- 
mortality? They  are  lighter  than  nothing  and 
vanity  when  compared  with  those  which  are 
unseen  and  eternal ! 

Even  when  Jirst  entering  that  glorious  state, 
he  beholds  the  smile  of  the  Master — what 
pleasure  has  he  found  in  the  smiles  of  the  many 
happy  faces  here  \vhich  can  at  all  be  compared 
with  ikis  ?  Not  that  any  minister,  not  that  any 
Christian,  would  despise  the  favour  of  friends. 
Far  be  it  from  me  to  tread  it  beneath  my  feet ;  it 


136 


MORNING  MEETING 


is  that  which  often  supports  and  cheers  me  in 
the  post  in  which  God  has  placed  me.  But  this 
is  not  our  reward.  We  have  not  our  recompence 
in  the  smiles  of  men  :  the  best  creatures  are  but 
dust,  and  the  best  are  but  mutable.  Our  reward 
is  there ;  it  is  there ;  it  is  there.  It  is  in  hearing 
our  Master  say,  "  Well  done it  is  in  beholding 
his  smile  ;  it  is  in  knowing  his  approval ;  it  is 
the  consciousness  that  he  has  loved  us,  and  has 
honoured  our  services  by  rendering  them  useful. 

My  congratulations,  then,  sir,  shall  have  re- 
ference to  the  future :  and  my  glorj-  this  day 
shall  be,  that  Mr.  Jay  shall  be  never  lost,  that 
Mr.  Jay  shall  never  die.  That  body  which  now 
you  see  crowned  with  hoary  hair  is  not  your 
pastor — that  is  not  your  friend.  The  pastor 
and  the  friend  is  here — it  is  here  :  and  that  heart 
shall  live  when  the  body  shall  crumble  into  dust 
and  mingle  with  the  earth  from  which  it  sprung. 
And  you  shall  see  that  spirit,  and  know  that 
spirit,  and  unite  with  that  spirit,  in  those  plea- 
sures which  are  for  evermore,  in  those  activities 
which  await  us  on  our  entrance  into  immortality. 

But  I  want  you  to  present  him  to-day  with 
something  more  valuable  (great  as  has  been  the 
token  of  your  esteem)  than  that  which  is  found 
on  this  table.    The  gold,  moth  and  rust  corrupt, 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS. 


137 


and  thieves  break  through  and  steal :  but  there 
are  treasures  which  are  in  heaven,  that  neither 
moth  nor  rust  doth  corrupt,  and  which  thieves 
break  not  through  and  steal.  Are  there  not 
some  of  the  young  of  his  congregation  who  have 
not  yet  given  God  their  hearts  ?  Are  there  not 
others  here  who  have  long  heard  his  cry,  "  Re- 
pent, and  believe  the  gospel" — ah  !  some  who 
heard  it  with  the  vigour  and  the  tone  of  his 
comparatively  youthful  voice,  and  now  hear  it 
as  it  almost  quivers  on  his  lips — and  yet  it  is 
to  them  a  tale  that  is  told  ?  It  has  not  yet  reach- 
ed the  heart;  it  has  not  yet  brought  the  hearer 
upon  his  knees  with  the  cry,  "  God  be  merciful 
to  me  a  sinner."  But  this  is  what  your  pastor 
wants ;  this  is  the  testimonial  which  he  most 
prizes — the  devotion  of  your  heart  to  his  Father 
and  my  Father,  to  his  God  and  my  God.  Give 
it  him  this  day.  I  say,  give  him  your  heart  this 
day.  I  need  not  urge  the  motives  on  you :  they 
live  ill  your  remembrance,  are  again  and  again 
suggested  to  you  every  time  you  hear  him  :  but 
I  put  you  in  remembrance  of  the  fact,  that  that 
is  the  only  real  and  solid  satisfaction  that  he 
can  receive  in  his  declining  years. 

If  this  be  your  testimonial,  oh,  what  a  Jubi- 
lee shall  this  be!    Our  joy,  sir,  shall  not  rest 
12* 


138 


MORNIXG  MEETING 


on  earth ;  no,  it  shall  rise  as  a  cloud  towards 
heaven ;  it  shall  reach  the  angels  that  are  hov- 
ering over  this  assembly ;  and  they  shall  catch 
the  spirit  as  they  look  on  some  souls  that  hear 
now  the  cry,  "  My  son,  give  me  thine  heart," 
and  who  are  replying,  "  Lord,  I  give  thee  mine 
heart."  I  say,  the  Jubilee  shall  not  he  confined 
to  earth,  but  it  shall  extend  to  heaven ;  for  an- 
gels and  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect 
shall  unite  with  our  joy  and  our  expressions  of 
gladness  to  day. 

And  what  shall  I  say  as  I  close  this  address?  It 
seems  somewhat  inconsistent  for  one  so  young 
as  myself  to  take  part  in  a  service  like  this : 
but  you  know  that  in  harmony  and  in  melody 
there  must  be  the  lowest  notes  as  well  as  the 
highest.  I  saw  hoary  heads  begin  these  con- 
gratulations, and  I  thought  it  might  not  be  in- 
consistent for  youth  to  close  them,  that  it  might 
be  evident  there  was  a  harmony  in  the  feelings 
of  this  assembly  ;  that  while  aged  spirits  were 
quickened,  young  hearts  beat  high  with  glad- 
ness, rejoicing  before  God  that  he  has  spared 
his  servant  to  behold  this  day.  And  I  can  con- 
gratulate my  honoured  father  in  the  ministry, 
as  the  youthful  soldier  would  congratulate  the 
veteran  whom  he  has  seen  for  years  keeping 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS.  139 

his  sword  without  a  spot  of  rust,  and  his  ar- 
mour as  bright  and  as  glorious  as  when  he  re- 
ceived it  from  the  hands  of  the  Captain  of  sal- 
vation. I  can  congratulate  him,  because  I 
have  my  own  hopes  and  my  own  fears,  my  own 
despondencies  and  my  own  joys,  in  the  work 
to  which  God  has  called  me.  I  do  congratulate 
him,  while  with  my  whole  heart  I  would  say 
to  our  honoured  father  in  the  ministry,  God 
bless  you,  sir,  and  the  partner  of  your  days,  and 
the  children  God  hath  given  you.  May  you  be 
an  unbroken  family  in  heaven !  God  bless 
you  as  a  pastor,  and  bless  your  flock.  May  they 
be  your  "  crown  of  rejoicing"  in  the  day  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  ! 

I  have  much  pleasure,  sir,  in  supporting  this 
resolution. 

The  Chairman  : — Before  I  put  the  motion, 
a  friend  wishes  to  occupy  your  attention  for  a 
few  moments,  who  would  not  like  to  return  to 
the  metropolis  without  briefly  expressing  his 
sentiments  on  this  occasion.  I  allude  to  Ed- 
ward Smith,  esq.,  the  Chairman  of  the  London 
Committee. 


Edward  Smith,  Esq  : — It  is  with  sincere 


140 


MORNING  MEETING 


and  heartfelt  pleasure  that  I  address  you  on  the 
present  interesting  occasion.  They  are  no  or- 
dinary circumstances  which  "now  convene  us. 
A  good  man  is  at  all  times  deserving  honour  ; 
but  where  excellence,  permanency,  and  consis- 
tency of  character,  have  been  displayed  for  half 
a  century,  the  honour  ought  to  be  pre-eminent. 
Examples  of  moral  worth  in  a  degenerate  world 
should  not  be  allowed  to  pass  away  without 
exciting  in  us  emotions  of  gratitude  and  feel- 
ings of  emulation.  We  need  such  instances  of 
human  virtue  to  inspire  us  with  exalting  and 
ennobling  sentiments,  and  to  impress  more  vi- 
vidly upon  the  mind  "  whatsoever  things  are 
lovely  and  of  good  report." 

The  life  of  William  Jay  is  calculated  to  pro- 
duce these  results.  His  long  attachment  to  re- 
ligious truth,  and  his  public  promulgation  of  it 
— that  truth  which  alone  is  capable  of  regene- 
rating a  fallen  world,  and  restoring  man  to  the 
image  of  his  Maker — have  so  imbued  the  spirit 
of  our  venerable  friend  as  to  exhibit  in  his  per- 
son the  beauty  and  loveliness  of  religion.  Fif- 
ty years  of  holy,  faithful,  and  consistent  service 
in  the  same  sphere  of  usefulness  in  his  divine 
Master's  vineyard  have  brought  him  forth  to 
maturity  like  a  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe  :  and  it 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY-ROOMS. 


141 


is  our  eminent  duty,  no  less  than  it  ought  to  be, 
and,  I  am  persuaded,  is,  our  exalted  pleasure, 
that  we  thus  meet  to  do  him  reverence. 

So  far  as  my  own  humble  efforts  have  been 
concerned  in  this  result,  I  am  free  to  confess 
that  I  never  in  the  course  of  my  life  more 
cheerfully  and  zealously  performed  any  act  of 
kindness  and  friendship.  In  fact,  with  any  pre- 
tensions to  a  feeling  of  even  common  gratitude 
for  the  spiritual  obligations  I  owe  to  my  beloved 
and  venerated  friend,  I  could  not  do  otherwise. 
And  is  there  an  individual  here  who  does  not 
sympathize  in  the  sentiment  I  have  now  ut- 
tered, and  who  would  not  have  done  likewise  ? 
It  appeared  to  me,  and  to  some  of  our  London 
friends,  that  you  at  Bath  ought  not  to  monopo- 
lise all  the  honour  which  was  to  be  conferred 
upon  the  present  occasion.  Our  friend  is  pub- 
lic property  ;  and  so,  it  would  seem,  that  noble 
organ  of  public  opinion,  the  Press,  has  consid- 
ered him  :  for,  irrespectively  of  the  differences 
of  political  party  and  religious  persuasion,  it  has 
combined  to  present  to  him  a  hearty  unanimity 
of  praise — praise  felt  to  be  justly  due  to  a  holy 
man  who,  for  so  protracted  a  period,  has  been 
the  faithful  and  affectionate  advocate  of  our 
common  Christianity. 


142 


MORNING  MEETING 


I  cannot  conclude  without  offering  my  best 
thanks  to  a  pious  and  liberal-minded  episco- 
palian, well  known  by  his  efforts  to  abolish  the 
sanction  of  idolatry  in  India — John  Poynder, 
esq.,  who  did  me  the  honour  to  send  me,  as  chair- 
man of  the  London  meeting,  a  most  admirable. 
Christian  letter  of  merited  eulogy  upon  our 
friend,  in  the  course  of  which  he  says — "  It  ap- 
pears to  me  to  reflect  great  honour  upon  all 
who  feel  with  you  that  such  laborious  services 
as  Mr.  Jay's  should  be  duly  appreciated :  and, 
amidst  much  darkness  and  discouragement 
which  at  present  obscure  the  prospects  of  our 
beloved  country,  it  forms  at  least  one  pleasing 
and  grateful  feature  of  the  present  times,  that 
the  Almighty  is  thus  putting  it  into  the  hearts  of 
my  dear  countrymen  to  honour  those  who  have 
deserved  well  of  their  country,  and  who  by  a 
long  and  peaceful  course  of  consistent  useful- 
ness, have  done  more  to  raise  her  reputation 
and  prolong  her  existence,  than  her  highest 
statesmen,  or  her  most  renowned  warriors." — 
He  adds,  "  it  has  pleased  God  to  place  me  in  a 
different  communion,  but  I  cannot  withhold  my 
testimony  from  the  real  value  to  the  church  of 
Christ,  and  the  nation  at  large,  which  such  a 
man  has  proved." 


AT  THE  ASSEMBLY  ROOMS.  143 

The  Rev.  J.  Jackson,  of  Taunton,  gave  out 
one  of  the  Jubilee  hymns,  written  for  the  occa- 
sion by  J.  Montgomery,  esq.*  The  hymn 
being  sung,  the  Rev.  J.  Jj^ckson  pronounced 
the  apostolic  benediction,  and  the  meeting 
terminated. 


*  See  end  of  the  volume. 


EVENING  MEETING  AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


Henry  Godwin,  Esq.,  in  the  chair. 

Prayer  being  offered  by  the  Rev  John  Glan- 
viLLE,  of  Kingswood ; 

One  of  the  Jubilee  hymns,  composed  by  J. 
Montgomery,  Esq.,  was  given  out  by  the  Rev. 
P.  Cater,  and  sung  by  the  congregation. 

The  Chairman  : — I  believe  the  present 
meeting  is  assembled  to  praise  God,  and  that 
praise  will  constitute  the  greater  part  of  our 
employment  this  evening.  We  are  also  assem- 
bled for  an  object  which  must  be  familiar  to 
most  of  our  friends  who  are  at  all  conversant 
with  profane  history.  We  know  that  the  set- 
ting up  of  pillars  and  obelisks  was  very  com- 
mon in  ancient  times ;  and  so  early  did  the 
practice  obtain  in  the  world,  that  the  period 
when  the  pyramids  of  Egypt  and  others  were 
set  up  has  been  the  subject  of  dispute  amongst 
historians ;  and  to  the  present  day  there  is  a 
difficulty,  if  not  an  impossibility,  of  ascertain- 
ing how  early  the  setting-up  of  pillars  might 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


145 


have  begun  in  the  profane  world.  We  see 
them  also  in  use  in  our  own  time.  We  have 
our  Wellington  pillars,  our  Nelson  pillars,  and 
obelisks ;  and  the  crosses  which  we  see  at  the 
roadside,  and  the  votive  altars  which  are  dis- 
covered in  digging  foundations  for  buildings  in 
this  neighbourhood,  shew  us  that  the  custom  is 
ancient,  and  perhaps  laudable. 

But  these  trophies,  these  obelisks,  these  pil- 
lars, were  raised  for  mortal  heroes,  to  perpetu- 
ate the  fame  of  those  whose  glory  was  in  the 
field  of  battle,  who  carried  carnage,  with  gar- 
ments rolled  in  blood,  through  the  world.  They 
have  been  crowned,  indeed,  with  the  emblems 
of  victory ;  but  the  victory  has  been  attended 
with  the  sighs,  the  mourning,  and  the  tears  of 
widows  and  orphans.  We  are,  however,  as- 
sembled this  evening  to  set  up  other  pillars. 
We  have  a  higher  and  a  brighter  object.  We 
have  to-night  to  set  up  peaceful  emblems — to 
follow  examples  recorded  in  the  Scriptures  as 
our  authority  for  what  we  are  about  to  do.  I 
am  sure  that  most  of  those  who  hear  me  now 
are  familiar  with  some  of  the  first  pillars  which 
were  set  up  :  such  as  that  erected  by  Jacob  on 
his  journey  to  Padan-aran.  The  pillar  which 
he  then  set  up  produced  an  awful  impression 
13 


146 


EVENING  MEETING 


upon  his  mind  ;  which  constrained  him  to  say 
(and  may  we  now,  and  at  all  times  when  we  enter 
this  sacred  house,  entertain  similar  ^feelings,) 
"  How  awful  is  this  place  !  This  is  none  other 
than  the  house  of  God,  and  the  gate  of  heaven." 
A  little  of  this  feeling  to-night,  amidst  all  our 
joy  and  all  our  praise,  will  not  be  either  incon- 
venient or  inconsistent. 

There  are  other  accounts  in  the  Scriptures 
recording  similar  occurrences  ;  such  as  the  set- 
ting-up of  the  twelve  pillars  by  Moses  in  the 
wilderness.  But  there  is  a  pillar  spoken  of  in 
the  Apocalypse  which  we  all  should  think  of; 
that  is,  the  pillar  which  is  to  be  in  heaven  ;  the 
pillar  that  is  to  bear  the  temple  there ;  the  pil- 
lar that  is  to  bear  the  inscription  of  the  Chris- 
tian's name,  and  to  be  placed  in  that  city  whence 
they  shall  no  mere  go  out.  Oh  !  let  us  be  more 
emulous  than  ever  that  we  may  become  the  pil- 
lar that  St.  John  saw  in  the  temple,  and  that  our 
names  may  be  written  on  it ! 

To  detain  you  longer  would  be  inconsistent 
with  the  duties  which  lie  before  us  ;  and  the  ob- 
ject of  our  meeting  being  well  known  to  you,  I 
shall,  without  further  hesitation,  call  upon  our 
excellent  friend,  Mr.  East,  to  commence  the 
celebration  of  this  portion  of  the  Jubilee  by  mov- 
ing the  first  resolution. 


AT  ARGYLK  CHAPEL. 


147 


The  Rev.  T.  East  : — I  have  been  requested, 
my  Christian  brethren,  to  read  the  following  re- 
solution : 

"  That,  feeling  it  to  be  their  duty  to  "  remembei  them  which 
have  had  the  rule  over  them,  and  who  have  spoken  unto  them  the 
word  of  God,  and  being-  desirous  to  record  the  period  when  this 
house  was  erected  for  the  worship  of  Almighty  God,  accordmg  to 
the  faith  and  practice  of  Protestant  Dissenters  of  the  Independent 
denommation,  the  members  of  this  church  and  congregation  now 
set  up  this  Pillar,  with  the  following  inscription  engraved  there- 
on :— The  Rev.  Thomas  Tuppen,  the  first  pastor  of  this  church, 
entered  into  rest  Feb.  22d  1790,  having,  in  1788,  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  this  place  of  worship.  It  was  opened  October  4th,  17S9,  by 
the  Rev.  William  Jay,  who  was  ordained  its  minister  January  30, 
1791.  'Consider  the  end  of  their  conversation,  Jesus  Christ,  the 
same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever.'— Heb.  xiii.  7,  8." 

It  is  now  somewhat  more  than  thirty-eight 
years  since  I  first  entered  this  chapel,  having 
just  then  escaped  from  darkness  to  light,  from 
the  power  of  Satan  unto  God ;  little  thinking, 
when  I  took  my  first  sitting,  that  I  should  ever 
live  to  see  such  a  day  as  this. 

But  I  confess  that  I  feel  more  depressed  to- 
night than  elated  ;  and  for  the  following  reasons. 
This  is  the  last  of  a  series  of  interesting  ser- 
vices ;  it  is  the  last  of  an  extraordinary  series 
of  extraordinary  services  :  and  there  is  always 
something  in  the  last  which  is  verj'  touching  to 
a  sensitive  mind. 


148 


EVENING  MEETING 


But  it  is  not  this  ^vllich  depresses  me.  What 
then? — The  prospect  of  another  scene,  to  which 
my  esteemed  friend,  the  Chairman,  made  an  al- 
lusion at  the  conclusion  of  his  address.  There 
sits  my  venerated  friend,  whose  long-continued 
ministry  in  this  place  has  led  to  the  services  of 
this  day.  But  there  is  a  day  coming  when  he 
is  to  be  glorified  with  the  glory  which  the 
Father,  through  the  Son,  v.  ill  put  upon  him  : 
and  who  will  witness  that  splendid  scene  ?  A 
ticket,  easily  thrown  off,  easily  presented,  and 
easily  received,  constituted  the  right  of  admis- 
sion here  to-night.  I\Iy  friends,  are  you  prepared 
for  that  other  scene  which  may  burst  upon  glo- 
rified and  damned  spirits  ere  we  are  aware  of 
it? 

I  was  depressed  on  entering  the  chapel  to- 
night from  the  circumstance  of  the  rush  to  get 
in.  Why  ?  Why  !  because  I  fear  there  are 
many  persons  present  who  will  never  make  such 
an  effort  to  get  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  as 
has  been  made  to  get  into  Arg)-le  chapel  to- 
night. Here  you  see  the  pillar  ;  there  you  see 
the  venerated  pastor :  you  have  listened  to  the 
hymn  of  praise.  0  man  !  0  woman  !  if  you 
have  never  yet  fled  for  refuge  to  Jesus  Christ, 
flee  for  refuge  to  him  to-night ;  lest  the  remem- 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


149 


brance  of  these  extraordinary  services  should 
only  tend  to  embitter  your  recollections  of  earth, 
and  render  the  impressions  of  eternity  more 
piercing,  more  agonizing,  for  ever  and  for  ever  ? 

"  But  as  yet  there  is  a  hope  ; 

You  may  his  mercy  know : 
Though  his  hand  is  lifted  up, 

He  still  forbears  the  blow. 

'Twas  for  sinners  Jesus  died  ; 

Sirmers  he  invites  to  come. 
None  who  come  shall  be  denied : 

He  says,  There  yet  is  room." 

The  Rev.  W.  M.  Bunting,  of  Manchester  : 
— Mr.  Chairman, — I  cannot  describe  to  you  the 
embarrassment,  occasioned  partly  by  disap- 
pointment and  partly  by  surprise,  under  which 
I  accept  your  call  to  address  for  a  few  minutes 
this  respectable  and  deeply  interested  audience. 
Disappointment,  I  say  ;  for  I  will  freely  con- 
fess, that  I  have  encountered  an  addition  of  be- 
tween eighty  and  ninety  miles  to  a  long  jour- 
ney, to  which  I  stood  previously  engaged, 
purely  for  the  gratification  of  being  present  at 
these  festive  proceedings :  and  yet,  during  the 
whole  of  the  day,  in  consequence  of  a  familiar 
infirmity,  in  which  I  cannot  but  recognise  the 
13* 


150 


EVENING  MEETING 


direct  interposition  of  Providence,  I  have  been 
prevented  from  enjoying  that,  the  anticipation 
of  which  was  so  pleasurable  to  me.  I  have 
scarcely  been  able  to  apprehend  a  sentence, 
or  sometimes  to  receive  a  sound  on  this  occa- 
sion ;  and  can  hardly,  indeed,  at  the  present 
moment  hear  the  tones  of  my  own  voice. 

And  even  the  pleasure  of  witnessing  what  I 
have  witnessed  is  greatly  qualified  by  the  sur- 
prise you  have  inflicted,  by  calling  on  me  to  oc- 
cupy a  prominent  station  on  this  platform.  If 
it  had  been  permitted  to  any  stranger — to  any 
member  or  minister,  for  instance  of  my  own 
church — to  have  intruded  on  the  proceedings  of 
this  assembly,  (an  assembly,  which  I  hope  I 
shall  not  profanely  compare  to  the  company  of 
heaven — a  great  multitude,  and  yet  a  sealed 
and  select  one,)  that  duty  might  have  devolved, 
or  rather  that  privilege  might  have  been  accord- 
ed, more  naturally  to  some  one  of  my  Wesleyan 
brethren  resident  in  this  city.  It  seeilis  to  me 
that  your  calling  on  the  present  speaker  to  ad- 
dress you  is  equivalent  the  to  question,  "  Friend, 
how  camest  thou  in  hither?" — and  in  answer 
to  this,  I  must  beg  to  throw  the  blame  of  my 
appearance  here  entirely  on  my  venerated  fa- 
ther in  the  ministry.    I  appreciate,  for  one,  the 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


151 


delicacy  and  elevation  of  the  sentiment,  which 
has  led  the  members  of  the  church  and  congre- 
gation in  Arg}-le  chapel  to  confine  this  demon- 
stration for  the  most  part  to  themselves — to  their 
own  number  :  but  if  the  interest  and  attraction 
of  the  occasion  have  extended  beyond  Bath,  I 
ask,  whose  fault  is  it  ?  Certainly  not  mine  :  it 
is  the  incident,  it  is  the  fortune,  of  eminent  ex- 
cellence to  be  known  and  loved  in  spite  of  it- 
self ;  and  I  must  devolve  on  my  venerated 
friend,  Mr.  Jay,  the  responsibility  of  my  being 
attracted  to  so  great  a  distance,  to  pay  him  the 
homage  of  my  humble  gratitude  and  respect. 

I  may  boast,  sir,  that  my  knowledge  of  Argj-le 
chapel  itself,  and  my  interest  in,  and,  I  hope, 
benefit  from,  the  ministrations  of  your  pastor, 
have  spread,  occasionally,  over  a  period  of  about 
twenty -five  years — half  the  term  of  his  connex- 
ion with  Argyle  chapel.  I  recollect,  some- 
where about  twenty-five  years  ago,  attending 
this  chapel,  and  listening  with  delight  to  his 
ministrations  ;  and,  independently  of  the  advan- 
tage derived  from  a  frequent  hearing  of  his  min- 
istr}'  in  London  and  elsewhere,  I  have  to  thank 
him  sincerely  before  God,  and  with  supreme 
gratitude  to  God  Himself,  that  he  has  been,  in 
countless  instances,  my  private  instructor,  and 


152 


EVENING  MEETING 


the  conductor  of  my  family  devotions.  I  ex- 
pect that  he  will  conduct  those  devotions  to- 
night, in  my  absence  from  home  ;  I  mean,  of 
course,  by  virtue  of  that  modified  ubiquity, 
which  is  the  attribute  of  successful  authorship. 
I  expect  that  this  evening  your  pastor  will  pre- 
side at  my  domestic  altar,  and  bear  the  devo- 
tions of  my  family  before  the  Throne. 

I  have  to  return  him  thanks,  too,  on  behalf  of 
the  denomination  to  which  I  belong,  not  merely 
for  his  valuable  services  to  our  missionary  cause, 
but  for  the  many  instances  in  which  I  have 
known  our  people,  as  well  as  others,  profess  to 
have  been  profited  by  the  perusal  both  of  his 
devotional  and  his  didactic  writings.    And  more 
than  that,  separating  myself  (if  such  a  thing  be 
possible)/rowi  myself — flinging  aside  what  I  am 
heartily  sick  of,  all  denominational  and  secta- 
rian selfishness — forgetting  that  I  belong  to  any 
thing  but,  I  trust,  the  mystical  body  of  Christ — 
I  honour  him  as  my  father  in  the  Christian  min- 
istry ;   as  one  with  whom  I  shall  deem  it  my 
happiness  and  distinction  to  associate  in  a  fu- 
ture world ;  and  from  whom  I  should  think  it 
my  degradation  and  my  guilt  to  be  needlessly 
dissociated  in  the  present  life.    I,  for  one,  have 
no  notion  of  cultivating  estrangement  and  re- 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


153 


serve  in  regard  to  those,  in  the  present  world, 
with  whom  I  hope  to  unite  in  the  adoration  of 
God  and  the  Lamb  for  ever  and  ever. 

I  congratulate  Mr.  Jay  on  such  a  line  of 
spiritual  posterity  before  him,  and  on  his  being 
permitted  to  witness  them  in  the  land  of  the  liv- 
ing and  in  the  congregation  of  the  righteous ; 
in  union  with  the  church,  and,  I  believe,  in 
union,  for  the  most  part,  with  Jesus  Christ  him- 
self. And  humbly  and  earnestly  pray  that  his 
own  life  may  yet  be  long  spared  to  you  ;  and 
that,  as  he  leans  forward  on  the  staff  of  old  age, 
or  backward  on  the  pillow  of  death,  the  pro- 
ceedings of  this  day  may  be  among  the  most 
hallowed,  as  well  as  the  most  happy,  recollec- 
tions of  that  life.  I  rejoice  to  see  him  even  as 
an  old  man,  because — as  we  were  affectingly 
reminded  this  morning — that  it  is  but  the  omen 
of  his  approach  to  a  glorious  immortality.  If 
he  stoops,  it  is  but  under  the  honours  which 
time,  and  age,  and  your  affection  have  heap- 
ed upon  him,  and  the  usefulness  with  which 
the  Great  Head  of  the  church  has  been  pleas- 
ed to  accompany  his  labours.  He  draws  near 
to  the  glory  which  shall  be  revealed  in  him  : 
and  I  pray  that  all  who  celebrate  with  him  his 
jubilee  on  earth,  may  celebrate  with  him  the 


154 


EVENING  MEETING 


centenary  of  his  connexion  with  this  church — 
for  I  hope  the  tie  will  be  indissoluble.  We 
know  where  he  will  spend  it — may  we  spend  it 
with  him.  May  you,  my  dear  friends,  be  his 
rejoicing,  even  as  he  is  yours  in  the  day  of  the 
Lord  Jesus ! 

The  Chairma*  having  put  the  resolution,  it 
was  unanimously  adopted  by  the  meeting. 

The  anthem,  "  When  the  ear  heard  him,"  was 
then  performed  by  the  choir. 

The  Rev.  T.  Haynes  : — Mr.  Chairman,  and 
Christian  friends ;  I  have  been  requested  to 
read  the  following  resolution,  and  propose  it  for 
the  adoption  of  the  meeting : 

"That  the  members  of  lliis  church  and  congregation,  being- 
deeply  sensible  of  the  distinguishing  goodness  of  God,  to  their 
venerable  pastor,  and  to  themselves,  during  the  lapse  of  half  a- 
century,  and  being  desirous  to  have  a  memorial  set  up  to  com- 
memorate this  hallowed  period,  do  now  erect  this  pillar,  with  the 
following  inscription  engraved  thereon : — To  record  tlie  goodness 
of  God  to  this  church  and  congregation,  and  to  their  mmister, 
the  Rev.  W.  Jay,  who,  on  January  30,  1841,  completed  a  happy 
and  useful  pastorate  of  fifty  years,  this  Pillar  was  erected.—'  Noi 
unto  us,  O  Lord !  not  unto  us,  but  unto  thy  Name  give  glory.' — 
Psalm  cxv.  1." 

It  is  one  of  the  obvious  and  evident  utterances 
of  genuine  and  ardent  piety,  that  it  seeks  to 
memorialize  the  special  mercies  of  a  covenant 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


155 


and  crracious  God  :  and  when  those  mercies  are 

o 

associated  with  the  highest  and  most  glorious 
objects  which  human  minds  can  engage  in,  and 
which  human  life  can  be  spent  in,  it  surely  be- 
comes highly  important  that  such  mercies  should 
be  distinctly  commemorated. 

The  church  and  congregation  assembling  in 
this  place  of  worship  have,  then,  a  just  and 
righteous  reason  for  memorializing  the  perpetu- 
ated services  of  their  beloved  pastor,  and  for 
lifting  up  their  banner  in  the  name  of  the  God  of 
heaven,  that  they  have  been  signally  blessed  by 
Him.  And  where  is  the  individual,  possessing 
Christian  sentiments  and  Christian  feelings,  who 
does  not  respond  to  the  emotions  which  have 
erected  these  memorials  to  pastoral  esteem  and 
pastoral  labour  ?  I  apprehend,  sir,  that  if  there 
be  a  man  in  the  Christian  ministry  at  this  time 
to  be  found  in  any  quarter  of  the  globe,  or  in 
any  city  of  any  part  of  the  world,  to  whom  such 
a  memorial  is  appropriate  and  desirable,  it  is  to 
our  venerated  friend,  whose  services  are  now 
embalmed  in  the  affections  of  his  people,  and 
recognised  in  the  monumental  inscription  upon 
this  pillar.  Oh !  how  delightful  it  is  to  see 
Christian  brethren  thus  recognising  the  great 
principles  of  our  Christian  religion  ;  thus  stand- 


156 


EVENING  MEETING 


ing  forward  to  attest  the  sense  of  the  sterling 
worth  of  the  Christian  ministry  ;  thus  ready, 
while  they  honour  God  for  the  instrumentality 
of  his  servant,  especially  to  memorialize  their 
obligations  to  his  mercy  and  his  love,  for  that 
grace  by  which  the  servant  of  the  Lord  was 
distinguished,  and  for  that  success  which  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  has  poured  upon  his  ministry. 
I  am  sure  that  the  venerated  pastor  of  this 
church,  every  Christian  minister  in  this  assem- 
bly, and  every  Christian  mind  under  this  roof, 
would  revolt  from  the  thought  of  paying  homage 
and  honour  to  man,  without  a  distinct  reference 
to  the  high  influence  from  heaven  which  has 
distinguished  the  individual.  It  is  the  glory, 
and  the  grace,  and  the  crown  of  success  attend- 
ant upon  the  ministerial  labours  of  the  individual 
whose  services  we  commemorate, — it  is  because 
God  has  thus  distinguished  him,  that  we  unite 
in  our  feeble,  humble  strains  to  commemorate 
the  goodness  and  the  grace  of  God. 

If  w^e  could  review  the  ministerial  labours  of 
the  faithful  servant  of  God,  as  they  are  seen  by 
Him  who  knows  their  worth,  who  knows  their 
connexion  with  his  purposes,  who  sees  their 
relation  with  the  salvation  of  immortal  souls, 
and  who  looks  at  the  end  from  the  beginning* 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


157 


how  much  deeper  would  be  our  sympathies, 
how  much  more  sacred  our  impulses,  how  much 
more  ardent  our  gratitude,  than  they  are  at  the 
present  time  !  But,  sir,  the  record  of  every 
faithful  minister  is  on  high ;  and  while  it  is  his 
comfort  to  know,  that  wherever  he  opens  his 
lips  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  for  the  honour  of  his 
gospel,  and  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  the  testi- 
mony cannot  be  lost — cannot  be  lost  on  earth, 
shall  not  be  lost  in  heaven,  but  shall  have  its 
record  there,  and  its  seal  there  ; — I  firmly  be- 
lieve, sir,  that  the  promise  of  our  Lord  author- 
izes every  faithful  minister  to  expect  that  the 
testimony  borne  to  Jesus,  simply  in  faith,  and 
in  truth,  is  never  borne  in  vain. 

But,  sir,  when  I  think  of  the  labours  of  my 
venerated  friend,  I  cannot  help  feeling  that,  in 
the  tone  which  he  has  given  to  the  ministry  at 
home,  in  the  spirit  which  he  has  breathed  into 
the  ministerial  office  generally,  and  in  the  glo- 
rious results  which  his  style  and  quality  of 
preaching,  and  temper  of  mind  and  simple  re- 
liance on  divine  grace,  have  effected  in  in- 
fluencing the  ministry,  an  incomparable  amount 
of  good  has  been  done.  Sir,  we  want  our 
standards,  not  only  of  divinity,  but  also  of  min- 
istry ;  those  standards  to  which  we  may  look, 
14 


158 


EVENING  MEETING 


and  by  which  we  may  measure  ourselves  ;  by 
which  we  may  catch  the  spirit  of  a  higher  and 
better   world,  and  the  spirit  of  that  Master 
whom  we  serve  :  and  I  never  can  come  into 
the  fellowship  or  under  the  ministry  of  a  man 
of  God,  who  breathes  the  spirit  of  his  Master 
and  of  his  work,  and  who  puts  forth  simple 
truth  with  an  earnest  and  manifest  desire  to  do 
good,  but  I  feel — I  was  going  to  say,  insensibly, 
in  the  first  instance,  imperceptibly- — that  I  am 
in  the  presence  of  a  character  whose  majesty 
and  dignity  must  awe  my  spirit,  and  whose  tes- 
timony for  my  Saviour  and  my  Lord  must  be 
honoured,  esteemed,  and  loved  by  me  !  Can 
we  say  to  how  great  an  extent  the  ministrations 
of  my  friend  have  accomplished  blessed  re- 
sults, in  preserving  Christian   brethren  from 
turning  aside  from  the  truth  ;  in  keeping  Chris- 
tian minds  from  even  looking  at  error ;  and  in 
preserving  the  love  and  temper  of  the  Christian 
ministry  in  its  plainness,   its   fervency,  its 
earnestness,  and  its  power !    I,  for  one,  must 
confess — and  I  do  it  before  God  and  this  assem- 
bly— that  I  do  not  remember  an  instance  in 
which  the  influence  of  an  individual  minister  of 
the  gospel  has  produced  so  (as  I  conceive  it) 
scriptural  and  fair  a  view  of  what  the  ministry 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


159 


of  the  gospel  should  be,  upon  my  own  mind,  as 
that  of  my  friend  Mr.  Jay  :  and  I  know  I  speak 
the  sentiments  of  many  when  I  make  this 
avowal.  I  hold  it  to  be  a  distinguished  bless- 
ing that  the  showers  of  heavenly  grace  have 
rested  on  him  to  the  present  hour.  I  pray  that 
thesh  owers  of  divine  influence  may  still  come 
down  and  distinguish  his  latest  days  ;  and  that 
those  who  assembled  with  him  in  this  place  of 
worship  may,  one  and  all,  rejoice  in  the  great 
things  of  God,  in  their  experimental  knowledge, 
and  in  their  blessed  and  beneficial  results  ! 

I  have  much  pleasure,  expressing  these  sen- 
timents, in  proposing  the  resolution. 

The  Chairman  : — The  Rev.  Samuel  Nich- 
ols, grandson  of  the  first  deacon  of  the  Inde- 
pendent church  in  Bath,  will  second  the  reso- 
lution. 

The  Rev.  S.  Nichols  : — I  cannot  conceive  it 
possible  that  the  heart  of  any  individual  in  this 
assembly,  who  has  witnessed  the  proceedings  of 
this  morning,  or,  as  far  as  they  have  gone,  the 
proceedings  of  this  evening,  can  look  on  with  in- 
sensibility though  that  sensibility  may  admit  of 
different  degrees.  And  I  conceive  it  equally  im- 
possible that  any  of  you  can  feel  more  intensely 


160 


EVENING  MEETING 


in  connexion  with  these  services  than  the  indi- 
vidual who  is  now  addressing  you.  Mr.  Chair- 
man, you  made  a  happy  reference  this  morning  to 
what  the  sainted  Wilberforce  would  feel  in  con- 
nexion with  this  celebration :  and  if  there  be 
degrees  of  intense  feeling  in  heaven,  my  sainted 
grandsire,  to  whom  yoa  have  just  referred,  must 
experience  the  most  exalted  pleasure.  If  there 
be  joy  in  heaven  to  see  one  sinner  returning  to 
God,  taking  his  first  step  in  the  path  to  heaven, 
oh  !  it  must  be  joy  to  angels  and  to  saints,  and 
especially  to  those  once  associated  with  the 
services  of  the  minister  whose  Jubilee  we  are 
now  celebrating  ;  it  must  be  the  cause  of  high 
joy  to  their  hearts  to  find  that  he  has  been  pre- 
served to  the  present  hour,  and  his  reputation, 
in  every  sense,  yearly  increasing. 

When  I  recur  to  the  recollections  of  child- 
hood, which  are  identified  with  these  very 
walls,  I  see  before  me,  in  yon  part  of  the 
chapel,  the  countenance  of  my  affectionate  an- 
cestor, beaming  with  vivid  joy  as  he  listened  to 
the  voice  of  his  pastor  :  and  I  cannot  breathe 
a  belter  wish  for  his  successors  in  ofllice, 
through  every  future  generation,  within  these 
walls,  than  that  they  may  inherit,  and  imbibe, 
and  display  like  straightforwardness  of  purpose, 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


161 


like  simplicity  of  faith  in  Christ,  to  that  which 
distinguished  him.  More  I  will  not  say,  be- 
cause he  was  my  grandsire  ;  less  I  could  not 
say  in  justice  to  his  memory,  or  in  justice  to  the 
occasion  on  which  we  are  assembled,  in  refer- 
ence to  an  individual  than  whom  no  one  felt  a 
deeper  interest  in  the  erection  of  this  place  of 
worship ;  than  whom  no  one  welcomed  with 
more  solicitude  and  joy  our  venerated  friend, 
fifty  years  ago,  to  his  introduction  to  the  pasto- 
ral office  :  than  whom  no  one  clave  more  close- 
ly to  him,  with  attachment,  not  for  a  single 
moment  interrupted  or  abated,  but  growing  with 
the  increase  of  his  years  down  to  his  dying 
moments. 

Amongst  my  earliest  recollections  of  child- 
hood is  the  sight  of  my  friend  in  the  pulpit,  his 
head  then  white,  but  not  as  now  with  the  snows 
of  age, — not,  as  now  hoary  with  the  glory  of 
being  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness.  And 
amongst  the  earliest  sounds  which  my  ear,  after 
the  lapse  of  forty  years,  can  now  retain,  are  the 
deepness  and  the  pathos  of  his  tones,  which 
attracted  the  attention  of  my  childish  years  long 
before  I  knew  the  import  of  the  sounds  which 
were  uttered;  a  voice  which,  in  after  years, 
with  much  solemnity,  delivered  to  me  a  charge 
14* 


162 


EVENING  MEETING 


at  the  period  of  my  being  set  apart  to  the 
Christian  ministry. 

Forgive  me,  my  friends,  for  thus  speaking  so 
much  of  myself,  on  a  subject  in  referring  to 
which  I  know  I  shall  be  more  than  justified  on 
the  present  occasion.  You  will  not  wonder  that 
I  feel  intense  delight  in  connexion  with  this 
Jubilee.  I  am  thankful  that,  not  many  weeks 
ago,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  present  at  the 
very  preliminary  proceedings  which  have  issued 
in  a  series  of  services  so  unusual  and  so  appro- 
priate. I  rejoice  in  having  been  permitted  on 
Thursday  evening  last  to  elicit  the  first  key- 
note in  the  hearts  of  many,  with  remarks  which 
I  hope  were  not  unsuitable  to  usher  in  the 
larger  and  more  lengthened  tones  which  follow- 
ed. I  rejoice  now  to  address  you  for  a  few 
moments  at  the  close  of  this  celebration. 

And  now  let  me  touch  a  string  which  has 
again  and  again  vibrated  during  the  present 
day's  proceedings — I  mean,  your  responsibility. 
We  have  said  much,  and  heard  much,  but  not  a 
word  too  much,  connected  with  this  scene,  of 
your  privileges;  and,  oh!  let  me  remind  you 
again  of  your  responsibility.  Members  of  this 
Christian  church  !  God  has  honoured  you  :  He 
has  honoured  you  long  j  He  has  honoured  you 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL, 


163 


highly ;  but  remember  your  obligations  bear  an 
equal  proportion.  The  world  has  a  right  to 
expect  much,  very  much,  from  you.  God  him- 
self has  a  right  to  expect  very  much  from  you. 
Oh !  forget  not  this  ;  but  as  this  Jubilee  is  like 
the  renewal  of  youth  to  your  venerated  pastor, 
let  it  be  like  a  renewal  of  youth  to  you  in  every 
thing  that  is  zealous,  and  Christian,  and  lovely. 
Looking  onward,  as  well  as  backward,  connect 
this  Jubilee  with  the  anticipated  solemnities  of 
the  last  judgment,  with  the  searching  and  start- 
ling peal  of  the  last  trumpet.  "  Therefore,  my 
beloved  brethren,  be  ye  steadfast,  immoveable, 
always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord; 
forasmuch  as  ye  know  that  your  labour  is  not 
in  vain  in  the  Lord." 

You  who  are  the  members  of  this  congrega- 
tion have  been  reminded  again  and  again  to-day, 
and  most  impressively,  of  the  awfulness  of  your 
condition,  should  you,  after  possessing  all  these 
privileges,  be  yourselves  lost.  Let  me  faith- 
fully and  affectionately  remind  you  that  there 
may  be  attachment  to  the  servant,  where  there 
is  none  to  the  Master ;  that  there  may  be  at- 
traction in  the  tact  and  talent,  and,  above  all, 
the  consistency,  of  the  pastor  of  this  church, 
while  you  see  no  attraction  in  the  wonders  of 


164 


EVENING  BTEETIXG 


the  Cross — no  attraction  in  the  loveliness  of 
Him  who  is  altogether  lovely.  Let  me  remind 
you  that  you  may  admire  the  reporter,  while 
you  forget  the  report.  Let  me  remind  you  that 
nothing  would  cheer  his  heart  more,  than  to 
know  that  the  day  of  his  Jubilee  is  the  day  of 
your  conversion. 

My  young  friends,  to  your  last  days  cherish 
the  recollection  of  what  you  have  heard  this 
evening.  Parents,  take  care  that,  as  far  as  in 
you  lies,  this  shall  be  the  case.  Amidst  all  that 
was  touching  in  the  proceedings  of  this  morning 
— and  there  were  strokes  upon  strokes,  till  the 
heart  almost  bowed  and  bent  beneath  their 
influence — there  was  nothing  touched  my  heart 
so  much  as  when  our  venerated  and  revered 
friend  referred  to  his  daughter  across  the  ocean, 
and  told  us  that  while  she  was  the  mother  of 
thirteen  children,  through  the  aboundings  of 
the  grace  of  God,  all  of  them  were  walking 
with  her  in  the  path  to  God  and  to  glory.  Oh  ! 
who  that  has  a  parent's  heart,  but  must  beat 
high  with  anxiety  for  the  interest  of  their  chil- 
dren? It  is  delightful  to  see  (as  I  have  re- 
cently experienced)  the  oldest  publicly  devoting 
himself  to  God  :  but,  oh !  what  joy  must  it  be 
to  have  thirteen  companions,  not  only  along  the 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


165 


path  of  life,  but  dear  children  travelling  with  the 
parent  to  a  higher  and  a  better  world  !  Oh  ! 
that  like  blessings  may  descend  on  us  all !  Oh! 
that  on  all  the  children  of  our  venerated  friend, 
and  all  their  children,  the  Spirit  of  grace  may 
richly  descend ;  that  at  last  they  "  may  meet, 
no  wanderer  lost,  a  family  in  heaven !"  Amen, 
and  amen. 

The  motion  being  put  by  the  Chairman,  re- 
ceived the  unanimous  adoption  of  the  meeting. 


THE  JUVENILE  TESTIMONIAL. 

The  younger  branches  of  the  congregation 
having  determined  upon  presenting  their  min- 
ister with  a  token  of  their  affection  and  esteem, 
a  gold  medal  and  a  silver  salver  were  prepared 
for  that  purpose. 

The  medal  was  from  a  design  by  Mr.  S. 
King.  On  one  side  it  has  a  medallion  likeness 
of  the  pastor  whose  Jubilee  it  is  intended  to 
commemorate,  and  bears  the  following  inscrip- 
tion : — "  The  Rev.  William  Jay  completed  a 
pastorate  of  fifty  years,  Jan.  30,  1841."  The 
reverse  shows  an  elevation  of  the  sacred  edi- 


166 


EVENING  MEETING 


fice  SO  long  the  scene  of  Mr.  Jay's  ministerial 
labours,  being  inscribed — "  Argyle  chapel, 
Bath.  Erected  1789.  First  enlargement,  1804; 
second  enlargement,  1821." 

The  salver  bears  the  following  inscription  : 

"  The  juvenile  members  of  the  church  and  congregation  of 
Argyle  chapel  present  this  salver,  bearing  a  gold  medal,  comme- 
morative of  the  event,  as  a  tribute  of  aifection  to  their  highly-es- 
teemed pastor,  the  Rev.  William  Jay,  on  the  completion  of  the 
Jubilee  of  his  ministerial  labours,  with  the  sincere  hope  that  he 
may  long  be  spared  to  them  as  their  shepherd,— .Ba^A  ;  20th  Jan. 
1841." 

The  bag  in  which  these  tokens  of  regard 
were  enclosed  was  composed  of  crimson  vel- 
vet, embroidered  with  gold,  and  ornamented 
with  tassels  of  the  same  material ;  the  gift  of 
Miss  Jones. 

This  testimonial  was  now  presented  to  Mr. 
Jay,  through  the  medium  of  the  chairman,  by 
a  deputation  from  the  young  persons,  headed  by 
Mr.  J.  R.  King  and  Mr.  Finigan,  with  the  fol- 
lowing address. 

Mr.  J.  R.  King:— Mr.  Chairman,— The 
pleasurable  duty  devolves  on  me  this  evening 
of  presenting  to  you,  from  the  hands  of  these 
3^oung  ladies,  this  elegant  testimonial  of  the 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


167 


love  and  esteem  which  the  juvenile  members 
of  this  church  and  congregation  bear  to  their 
venerable  and  beloved  pastor.  It  is  their  de- 
sire sir,  that  you  would  have  the  kindness  to 
present  it  to  Mr.  Jay.  This  token  of  respect 
is  the  result  of  the  zealous  exertions  of  the  la- 
dies accompanying  me  to  this  platform,  whose 
names  I  would  have  publicly  given,  but  from 
the  fear  that  my  doing  so  would  be  objectiona- 
ble to  their  feelings ;  as  they  are  names  which 
would  be  easily  recognised  by  our  dear  pastor, 
and  such  as  have  been  identified  with  the  con- 
gregation of  Argyle  chapel  for  a  long  series  of 
years.  I  only  have  to  add,  sir,  that  we  beg 
most  earnestly  to  join  in  the  beautiful  sentiment 
expressed  on  this  salver,  "  that  our  dear  minis- 
ter may  long  be  spared  to  us  as  our  shepherd." 

The  Chairman  having  received  the  testimo- 
nial, presented  it  to  Mr.  Jay,  with  the  following 
observations. 

The  Chairman  : — My  honoured  pastor, — I 
am  requested  by  the  juvenile  members  of  your 
congregation,  represented  by  these  young  la- 
dies, to  present  to  you  this  gold  medal,  which 
is  perfectly  unique  ;  there  is  no  other,  there  can 


168 


EVENING  MEETING 


be  no  other,  like  it.  It  is  intended,  sir,  for  your 
acceptance,  to  be  preserved  as  an  heirloom  in 
your  family,  which  may  always  bring  to  re- 
membrance the  affection  of  your  congregation, 
and  particularly  the  juvenile  part  of  it.  The 
young  ladies  who  have  taken  the  lead  in  pro- 
viding this  memento,  have  evinced  great  zeal, 
but  that  zeal  has  been  tempered  with  prudence. 
They  have  felt  great  pleasure  in  collecting 
contributions  towards  this  token  of  esteem,  and 
have  evinced  as  much  ardent  affection  as  any 
other  portion  of  your  congregation.  They  pre- 
sent it  with  their  united  prayer  that  you  may 
be  long  preserved  to  them  as  their  minister  and 
spiritual  shepherd. 

During  the  performance  of  the  anthem, 
"  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,"  Mr.  Jay  ascended  the  pulpit,  and  after- 
wards delivered  the  following  address. 

The  Rev.  W.  Jay  : — I  feel  more  at  home 
^ere,  though  not  entirely  so  amidst  these  pecu- 
liarities. Mr.  Chairman  and  my  dear  young 
friends,  I  little  imagined  I  should  have  been 
called  upon  for  a  second  address  on  this  occa- 
sion.   I  feel  entirely  exhausted,  not  by  exer- 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


169 


tion,  but  by  emotion ;  for  whoever  endured  such 
a  persecution  of  kindness,  and  friendship,  and 
honour,  as  I  have  endured  this  morning  and  this 
evening  ? 

And  yet  I  cannot  complain  of  being  called  to 
this  service.  Yea,  I  ought  to  feel  gratified  and 
grateful ;  and  I  assure  you  I  do  feel  gratified 
and  grateful  in  no  ordinary  degree.  The  token 
I  have  now  received  is  enhanced  and  endear- 
ed by  the  very  quarter  from  whence  it  comes. 
For  the  young  are  the  hopes  of  our  families, 
and  of  our  churches,  and  of  our  country.  On 
them  we  depend  to  fill  all  the  sacred  and  civil 
departments  in  the  community .  for  one  genera- 
tion passeth  away  and  another  cometh,  and  none 
is  suffered  to  continue  by  reason  of  death.  But, 
oh!  could  we  see  a  large  number  of  the  rising  race 
coming  forward  as  a  seed  to  serve  the  Redeem- 
er, who  shall  be  accounted  to  him  for  a  gene- 
ration ; — how  would  this  gently  loosen  the  cords 
of  life,  and  enable  us  to  say,  "  Lord,  now  lettest 
Thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  according 
to  thy  word ;  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  sal- 
vation." 

My  dear  young  friends,  what  a  privilege — 
ffor  I  will  not  refer  to  it  as  a  duty  now — what  a 
privilege  is  early  piety  !    Hence  the  language 
15 


170 


EVENING  MEETING 


of  Solomon,  which  we  so  often  quote,  "  I  love 
them  that  love  me,  and  they  that  seek  rae  early 
shall  find  rae,"  and  which  has  so  frequently 
adorned  a  youthful  tomb.  All  that  seek  shall 
find.  The  force  of  the  promise,  therefore,  must 
be  considered  comparatively.  All  alike  find, 
but  all  do  not  find  alike.  Is  there  no  differ- 
ence between  your  finding  Him  now  in  the  be- 
ginning of  your  journey,  to  guide  you  safely 
forward,  and  finding  Him  after  wandering  in 
wrong  roads,  and  after  being  robbed  and  wound- 
ed by  thieves,  and  having  your  strength  worn 
out,  and  the  shadows  of  the  evening  falling  up- 
on you  ?  Is  there  no  difference,  my  young 
friends,  between  finding  Him  in  the  loveliness 
and  cheerfulness  of  life,  and  finding  Him  only 
*'  when  the  days  and  the  years  draw  near  where- 
in ye  will  say,  we  have  no  pleasure  in  them 
No  diff'erence  between  your  finding  Him  in  the 
health  of  your  countenance  and  the  vigour  of 
your  strength,  and  finding  Him  only  when  your 
bones  will  be  filled  with  the  sins  of  your  youth, 
which  lie  down  with  you  in  the.  grave  ?  No ; 
none  find  Him  like  those  who  seek  Him  early. 
None  find  such  peculiar  acceptance  with  Him, 
none  derive  such  distinguished  privileges  fron» 
Him.    A  thousand  satisfactions;^nd  advantages 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


171 


are  wanting  in  a  late  conversion  which  adorn 
and  bless  an  earlier  one.  Take  an  old  man  :  his 
conversion  is  of  importance  to  himself;  but 
what  is  it  to  others?  His  conversion  secures  him 
for  eternity,  but  it  is  attended  with  no  usefulness 
in  life.  He  runs  no  race,  he  accomplishes  no 
warfare,  he  gains  no  laurels,  he  glorifies  not 
God  in  his  body  and  spirit,  nor  serves  his  gene- 
ration according  to  the  will  of  God — 

There  is  a  proverb  which  you,  perhaps,  may 
have  met  with,  which  says.  Young  saints  prove 
old  devils.    I  would  rather  reverse  this  ;  and 
say,  that  young  saints  often  prove  old  angels. 
Read  through  the  Scriptures  :  notice  the  history 
of  Joseph,  and  Samuel,  and  David,  and  Daniel, 
and  John,  and  Timothy.    Read  through  the  his- 
tory of  our  godly  ancestors.     Remember  the 
language  of  Beza  in  his  will :  "  Lord,"  says 
he,  "  I  thank  thee  that  at  the  early  age  of  six- 
teen I  was  enabled  to  dedicate  myself  to  thy 
service."    Here  the  speaker  could  refer  to  his 
own  experience,  and  perhaps  it  would  not  be 
improper  on  this  occasion.  My  young  friends  if 
he  had  not  been  cut  off  in  the  midst  of  his  days, 
what  a  different  figure  would  he  have  made  at 
this  time  had  he  been  the  victim  of  youthful 
vices.    And  I  am  persuaded  that  there  is  not  a 


172 


EVENING  MEETING 


Christian  here  who  is  not,  next  to  the  salvation 
of  his  soul,  most  grateful  for  an  early  consecra- 
tion to  the  service  and  glory  of  God. 

Now  I  presume  that  many  of  our  young  friends 
who  have  joined  in  this  testimony  of  respect  are 
already  walking  in  the  truth  :  and  I  can  have 
no  greater  joy  than  to  see  this.  But  I  hope  this 
will  be  the  case  with  all  who  have  joined  in 
this  token  of  respect.  Oh  !  my  young  friends, 
it  would  be  sad,  it  would  be  dreadful,  for  any  of 
you,  after  having  come  forward  thus  to  honour 
your  minister  now,  to  constrain  him  hereafter, 
on  a  more  public  occasion,  to  condemn  you — to 
say,  "  Lord,  they  are  guilty :  Lord,  they  have 
destroyed  themselves.  I  instructed  them ;  I 
warned  them  ;  I  invited  them  ;  I  besought  them 
with  tears  to  come  unto  thee.  But  they  turned 
away  from  him  that  speaketh  from  heaven  ; 
they  neglected  so  great  salvation  ;  they  rejected 
the  counsel  of  God  against  themselves." 

But  I  hope  better  things  of  you,  and  things 
that  accompany  salvation,  though  I  thus  speak. 
And,  oh !  my  young  friends  who  have  thus  fa- 
voured me,  could  I  take  many  of  you  by  the 
hand  and  lead  you  to  the  table  of  the  Lord,  it 
would  afford  me  much  more  delight  than  the 
reception  of  this  medal.    And  yet  I  do  not  un- 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


173 


dervalue  this  present ;  yea,  I  prize  it,  not  only 
for  the  exquisite  beauty  of  the  workmanship, 
but  for  the  sake  of  those  who  have  presented  it. 
It  will  remind  me  of  you,  my  young  friends, 
and  lead  me  to  remember  you,  too,  for  good. 

This  medal,  you  are  aware,  cannot  long  re- 
main in  my  possession:  but  it  will,  as  our  chair- 
man has  remarked,  serve  as  an  heirloom  in  my 
family;  so  that  my  children  and  my  children's 
children  when  they  look  upon  it  may  prize  it, 
and  remember  how  long  their  father  laboured 
within  these  walls,  and  how  God  smiled  upon 
him,  and  was  pleased  to  favour  him  to  the  last. 

Here  are  two  pillars  erected.  Delicacy  and 
my  feelings  will  not  allow  me  to  refer  to  them. 
Indeed,  the  allusion  would  be  unnecessary  after 
the  remarks  which  have  been  made  by  our 
chairman.  But  remember  they  are  memorials. 
One  of  them  is  a  memorial  of  my  predecessor  ; 
the  other,  after  a  while,  will  be  a  memorial  of 
myself.  Oh !  then  may  I  be  enjoying  Him 
above  while  you  are  zealously  serving  Him  be- 
low :  and,  at  last,  may  we  all  unite  in  that  bless- 
ed world  where  adieus  and  farewells  will  be  a 
sound  unknown  ! 

O  God !  let  thy  work  appear  unto  thy  ser- 
vants, 'and  thy  glory  unto  their  children  :  and 
15* 


174 


EVENING  MEETING 


let  the  beauty  of  the  Lord  our  God  be  upon  us, 

and  establish  thou  the  work  of  our  hands  upon 
us ;  yea,  the  work  of  our  hands  establish  thou 
it.  Amen. 

The  anthem,  "  How  excellent  is  thy  name, 
O  Lord,  in  all  the  earth,"  having  been  sung  by 
the  choir  ;  the  Rev.  D.  Wassell,  Baptist  min- 
ister, of  Bath,  gave  oQt  Mr.  Montgomery's  Ju- 
bilee hymn,  which  was  sung  by  the  congrega- 
tion. 

The  benediction  was  then  pronounced  by  the 
Rev.  W.  Lucy,  of  Bristol. 

The  Chairman  : — The  business  of  this  even- 
ing is  now  at  end ;  though  I  have  the  pleasure 
to  state  that  the  gentlemen  in  the  orchestra  in- 
tend to  perform  several  anthems  and  pieces  of 
music,  which  will  present  a  pleasing  finish  to 
a  festival  so  sacred  and  delightful,  wherein,  as 
far  as  I  have  observed,  nothing  but  brotherly 
love  has  been  manifested.  I  now  leave  the 
chair,  highly  gratified  with  your  attention  and 
your  kind  indulgence  to  me  as  your  chairman. 

A  selection  of  sacred  music  was  then  per- 


AT  ARGYLE  CHAPEL. 


175 


formed  by  the  choir,  which  gave  very  general 
satisfaction.  The  musical  arrangements  were 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Jacob  Titley,  who 
also  led  the  singing  at  the  Public  Breakfast  in 
the  morning. 


The  occurrence  which  called  for  the  pro- 
ceedings recorded  in  the  previous  pages  was  so 
rare  that  precedents  were  out  of  the  question. 
The  Managing  Committee  were  therefore 
thrown  entirely  upon  their  own  resources  for 
modes  of  celebrating  the  event,  and  they  did 
well  what  they  undertook  to  perform. 

One  feature  in  the  celebration  was  particu- 
larly gratifying  :  the  happiness  with  which  the 
day  was  hailed  by  the  immediate  members  of 
the  Independent  church  seemed  to  pervade 
every  denomination  of  Christians.  Episcopa- 
lians, Wesleyans,  and  Baptists,  were  present 
at  each  meeting  ;  the  little  barrier  which  sepa- 
rates them  on  earth  was  thrown  down,  and  all 
felt  that  they  were  of  "  one  church,"  and  "  one 
in  Christ  Jesus." 


THE  ANTHEMS 


SUNG  DURING  THE  EVENING  MEETING. 


MH.  NOBLE  PRESIDED  AT  THE  ORGAN. 


Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord! 

How  excellent  thy  name,  0  Lord  ! 

Sing  unto  God,  and  high  affections  raise  ! 

How  beautiful  are  the  feet  of  him  that  bringeth 
the  gospel  of  peace  ! 

Their  sound  is  gone  out  into  all  lands. 

Paraphrase  of  107th  Psalm. 

And  the  glory  of  the  Lord. 

On  thee  each  living  soul  awaits. 

Hallelujah  Chorus. 


JUBILEE  HYMNS 


SUNG  AT  THE  MORNING  AND  EVENING  MEETINGS. 


Hymn  I. 

A  blessing  on  our  Pastor's  head, 
Lord  God  !  we  fervently  implore ; 
On  him,  this  day,  a  blessing  shed 
For  life,  for  death,  for  evermore. 

For  all  that  Thou  in  him  hast  wrought, 
For  all  that  Thou  by  him  hast  done, 
Our  warmest,  purest  thanks  be  brought, 
Through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  thy  Son. 

To  Thee  he  gave  his  flower  of  youth. 
To  Thee  his  manhood's  fruit  he.  gave, 
— The  herald  of  live-giving  truth, 
Dead  souls  from  deathless  death  to  save. 

Forsake  him  not  in  his  old  age. 
But  while  his  Master's  cross  he  bears. 
Faith  be  his  staflf  on  pilgrimage, 
A  crown  of  glory  his  grey  hairs. 


JUBILEE  HYMNS. 


179 


With  holier  zeal  his  heart  enlarge, 
Though  strength  decay  and  sight  grow  dim, 
While  we,  the  people  of  his  charge. 
Still  glorify  thy  grace  in  him. 

So,  when  his  Avarfare  here  shall  cease, 
By  suffering  perfected  in  love. 
His  ransomed  soul  shall  join  in  peace 
The  Church  of  the  first-born  above. 

Hymn  H. 

Hallelujah  !  heart  and  voice, 
Yielding  all  the  praise  to  Thee, 
Lord  !  the  flock  would  now  rejoice 
In  the  Pastor's  Jubilee. 

Hallelujah  !  heart  and  voice, 
When  the  day  of  God  they  see, 
All  Christ's  sheep  will  thus  rejoice 
On  his  own  great  Jubilee. 

Hallelujah  !  heart  and  voice. 
Then  in  heaven  one  fold  shall  be 
And  one  Shepherd, — to  rejoice 
In  eternal  Jubilee. 

James  Montgomery. 

The  Mount,  Sheffield. 


riATP  ni  ic 
Ut\l  c  uuc 

HIGHSMITH  #^ 

15230 

Printed 

in  USA  / 

